59 
Sir,—I feel highly gratified by the honour conferred upon me, of 
receiving at your hands the valued acknowledgement of the merits 
of my distinguished countryman, Professor Ehrenberg, and I beg to 
return thanks, not only in my name, but also in that of Baron Bu- 
low, as the representative of Prussia in this country, who is prevented 
by official business from being present on this occasion. 
Nobody can be more able or inclined to appreciate duly the value 
of this distinction than Professor Ehrenberg. I know from himself 
that it was by England in particular that he wished his researches 
to be examined and approved ; andit was especially by this illustrious 
Society, so worthily presided over by one whose name is also in Ger- 
many equally dear to the friends of religion and moral philosophy, 
and to the followers of the exact sciences: it was to this Society, I 
say, to whose tribunal he was desirous to submit the judgement of 
the merits and importance of his discovery. Indeed, the honour 
you have decreed him to-day is only the public confirmation and so- 
lemn badge of that kind and encouraging interest which he met with 
from the members of this Society, and for which he felt the most 
sincere gratitude. 
But this feeling, Sir, will not be confined to himself: the honour 
of the prize awarded to him this day amongst so many illustrious 
competitors of all nations, will be deeply felt by the whole literary 
public of Germany : it will, I trust, form a new link in that intel- 
lectual union between the two great and enlightened nations, which 
have so many ties of common interest, and so many objects of warm 
and deep sympathy ; an union which must become every day more 
and more intimate, and prove productive of the most beneficial con- 
sequences, not only for the progress of science in the whole range 
of human intellect, but for the welfare of humanity at large. 
The flattering manner in which you have been pleased to allude 
to myself obliges me to say a few words on my own behalf. I feel 
only too much how entirely I must attribute those expressions to 
the kindness that inspired them, knowing how inadequate my own 
merits are to deserve them. But I rejoice sincerely at having this 
opportunity offered to me, publicly to express my feelings of grati- 
tude for the kind and generous reception I have constantly met with 
in this country, which for so many years and for so many and good 
reasons, has been the object of my love and of my admiration—feel- 
ings which will ever remain engraven on my heart, and with a par- 
ticularly gratifying reference to this day. 
It was afterwards resolved :-— 
1. That the thanks of this Society be given to Professor Whe- 
well, retiring from the office of President. 
2. That the thanks of this Society be given to William Henry 
Fitton, M.D. and Roderick Impey Murchison, Esq., retiring from the 
office of Vice-Presidents. 
3. That the thanks of the Society be given to Henry Boase, M.D., 
Viscount Cole, M.P., Marquis of Northampton, Professor Rovle, 
M.D., and Thomas Weaver, Esg., retiring from the Council. 
F 2 
