Address of the President of the British Association. 257 



good Robert Boyle, preeminent amongst early observers, and ever 

 eminent for Christian principle and devotion, cultivated natural science ; 

 and, without for a moment undervaluing the mighty names which do 

 honor to Cambridge — -which do more, which do honor to England 

 and our common nature — we may claim in Oxford the distinction of 

 having nourished and sent forth the men who first laid the basis of the 

 greatest of the scientific associations of the world. 



" Here, then, the British Association gladly accepts the welcome 

 now tendered to it within this venerable University. It was cordially 

 received fifteen years ago, when this chair was worthily occupied, — 

 and far more appropriately than by me — by my very revefend friend 

 Dr. Buckland. I hope and believe that the feeling of good-will and 

 respect will be mutual, enduring, and cordial ; that the University will 

 see with pleasure the progress of the natural sciences, and of the ob- 

 servations which the British Association has eminently encouraged ; — 

 and that the members of our Association will look with kindness and 

 respect at the. venerable seats of ancient learning, whence have been 

 diffused through the land for many centuries the benefits of a large and 

 liberal education, and the blessings of Christian instruction ; where it 

 is the earnest and habitual endeavor of those who teach— may it be 

 alike the desire of those who learn — to sanctify the acquirements of 

 the mind by the graces of the Spirit. 



" } feel that I have very inadequately discharged the duties of the 

 station in which I have been placed. Wherever the failure is less ap- 

 parent, I unfeignedly desire you to attribute such partial success to the 

 Jd which I have received from Dr. Robinson, Prof. Owen, Mr. Robert 

 B ^own, and Colonel Sabine ; since nothing which is derived from them 

 <*n be unworthy of your notice. Lest you should have forgotten my 

 earlier mention of them, I repeat this statement ; and add again, that 

 Jt is enough for me to be allowed^ to call such men my friends. My 

 own avocations in later years have withdrawn me, as I have said, 

 from the active pursuits of science ; yet it was necessary for me to at- 

 tempt some review of its later progress. I will only add my firm be- 

 Hthat every advance in our knowledge of the natural world will, if 

 "ghtly directed by the spirit of true humility and with a prayer for God s 

 blessing, advance us in our knowledge of Himself, and wdl prepare 

 us to receive his revelation of his will with profounder reverence 



"The improvements of modern arts have greatly facilitated the 

 f r °gress of science. Here how have they brought together from dis- 

 tem regions men of other tongues and other families, but not of other 

 Jinds !_ men whom I name to honor them ; the Prince of Canino, 

 .> der Hoeven, Langberg, Ehrenberg, Leverrier, Struve, and Gau- 

 JfVnited here in one common object. In the words of the Prophet 

 } Ja ^l, if they may be applied without irreverence, ' men travel to and 

 f °, and knowledge is increased.' , . . r 



• "May that knowledge be guided aright-may every acquisition of 

 be sanctified-as the ^circle widens, may every eye be sttU directed 



* l he centre of all truth-and may every science, whether cultivated 

 Annexion with this great Association or in the elder establishments 

 i* 18 great University, willingly, gladly, and cheerfully, lay its tribute 

 011 *e altar of God." 



S * c °nd Series, Vol. IV, No. lL-Sept., 1847. 33 



