2 THE president's ADDRESS. 



Btand-point outside the charmed circle of Science and Art, so worthily 

 occupied by our more distinguished members. I may be reproached 

 for my deficiencies by the well-known saying of Finch, " The sparks 

 of all the Sciences may be raked from the ashes of the Law," but we 

 have few amongst us here to whom we can point as an illustration of 

 this tribute to a profession — which first merited the compliment in 

 Francis Bacon, and still claims it for Henry Brougham. 



In a retrospect of the past year in any Institute for the Promotion 

 of Science or Art throughout the vast domains of Britain, an earnest 

 sorrow must find an early utterance for the unexpected calamity which 

 has darkened the happy circle of our beloved Sovereign's home, and 

 thrown a shadow over the light of Christmas hearths alike in the 

 stately and the lowly "homes of England." 



It seems as it were but a few short months since we saw the very 

 manly and noble form of him who is departed, standing at the right 

 hand of the Royal Presence, in the rich summer of life, surrounded 

 bv a pleasant band of children — or heard his voice in well-chosen, 

 happily turned, if not eloquent, words, opening the proceedings of 

 Bome gathering of educated minds for the advancement of the Arts 

 and Sciences, or possibly with loftier aim, for the spread of education 

 amongst the masses, to elevate the tone or ameliorate the condition of 

 his fellow-men. Royalty has never given to the cultivated intellect of 

 our country one so choicely adapted to preside over its councils — and 

 it may be long, indeed, before its gatherings will be so gracefully 

 honoured by the leadership of one so near the throne. And long will 

 the memory of his calm and stately presence live in the minds of 

 Englishmen, associated, possibly, with thoughts like these suggested 

 by the portrait of one as prematurely lost : 



" Yes ; such as these the well-known lineaments — 

 Such the capacious front, 

 The comprehensive eye — 

 The open brow serene. 

 Such was the gentle countenance which bore 

 Of generous feeling, and of golden truth ; 

 Sure Nature's sterling impress— never there 

 Unruly passion left 

 It9 ominous marks infixed ; 

 Nor the worst dye of evil habit set 

 An inward stain engrained. 

 Such were the lips whose genial playfulness 

 Enlivened peaceful hours of private life — 

 Whose graciinis voice held thousands open-eared, 

 As from the heart it flowed, a living stream 

 Of Christian wisdom, pure and yindeRledV—Southey. 



