10 



ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT. 



EDWIN DUNKIN, F.R.S., 



Past- President of the Royal Astronomical Society. 



On the last occasion wlien I had the pleasure of addressing 

 you, I selected for our consideration a few of the more important 

 researches in the physics of astronomy, a subject which has 

 been cultivated with remarkable success during the last thirty 

 years or more. At the same time I was able to draw your 

 attention to some of the marvellous deductions derived from the 

 spectroscopic analysis of solar and stellar light. I also pointed 

 out that for this great work we are chiefly indebted to the 

 energy and perseverance of a few devoted men of science, 

 whose original and refined investigations in astronomical physics 

 have assisted to build up the well-considered theories, on which 

 all our present knowledge of the physical composition and 

 distribution of the heavenly bodies is based. We also consid- 

 ered some of the wonderful astronomical discoveries made from 

 the photographic delineation of the starry heavens by means of 

 the telescopic camera, and I was able to give you some slight 

 idea of the illimitable exte'nt of the universe. Although there 

 is no more interesting section of astronomical research than that 

 represented by what is frequently referred to as the " new 

 astronomy;" it is not my intention to continue the subjects of 

 spectrum analysis and stellar photography, as, on the present 

 occasion, I am anxious to ofler a few remarks on some of the 

 principal advances made in the " old astronomy," especially in 

 relation to the physical features and movements of the different 

 members of the solar system. Before, however, entering on 

 the consideration of these important subjects, it is only proper 

 that I should refer briefly to some matters illustrating the 

 progress of the Institution during the past year, for some of the 

 details of which I am again indebted to the kindness of my 

 friend, our excellent Honorary Secretary. 



At our Spring Meetings the first duty of the President is 

 usually a melancholy one, as his thoughts are naturally directed 

 to the memory of those who until recently were included among 



