ADDRESS. Ivii 



when he was in the full career of his useful labours, and there are few 

 labourers in science whose loss has been more deplored. The University has 

 very lately lost another learned Professor, and myself another valued friend, 

 whose contributions to science are well known and duly esteemed. The 

 great tragic Poet of Greece introduces his hero accusing his heathen gods 

 of rescuing from the grave the vile and worthless, and sending thither the 

 good and useful : — 



rd dk Siicaia. /cat rd \pi]ard 



arrooreWovoiv act. 



Our purer faith in meek resignation trusts that they are removed from evil 

 to come, and that there at least they rest from their labours — rest from 

 earthly toil and trouble, but awake, may be, to higher aims and aspirations, 

 and with nobler faculties and duties. 



Although a successor may be appointed to Mr. Johnson, who will, I doubt 

 not, admirably discharge the duties of Radcliffe Observer, I fear that the 

 Observatory may not continue to maintain its high reputation, unless a suffi- 

 cient staff of Assistants be appointed to aid the Observer in his labours. 

 There is no mistake more fatal in Astronomy than that of multiplying in- 

 strumental means without providing an adequate supply of hands to employ 

 them. 



I have already alluded to some particulars in which this great University 

 has advanced in the career of scientific improvement, but everything else has 

 been somewhat thrown into the shade by the important event of this year, 

 the opening of the new Museum. The University could have given no more 

 substantial proof of a sincere interest in the diffusion of science than the 

 foundation of this noble Institution, and I am sure that among the distin- 

 guished cultivators of science here assembled, there is not one who does not 

 entertain a hearty desire for the success of the various efforts now in progress 

 for the purpose of stimulating our University Students to a closer contempla- 

 tion and more diligent study of the glorious works of Nature; a study, which, 

 if prosecuted earnestly, raises us in the scale of human beings and improves 

 every moral and intellectual faculty. Towards the attainment of a result so 

 much to be desired the Museum will most powerfully contribute, and those 

 who frequent it will owe deep obligations to Mr. Hope and the other bene- 

 factors who have generously added to its stores. But there are other causes 

 in operation which tend to the same end; and among them, in addition to 

 such improvements as arise out of the changes consequent on the recent 

 Act of Parliament, may be mentioned the alteration in the distribution of 

 University Honours. 



The institution of the School of Physical Science forms a most important 

 feature in the recent changes, and will doubtless be productive of good results, 

 provided that sufficient encouragement by way of reward be held out to 

 those whose tastes lead them to devote themselves to those departments of 

 knowledge, and that the compulsory arrangements in respct of other studies 



