AKNIVEESAEY ADDEESS OF THE PEESIDENT. XXXUl 



at the degree examinations, when Whewell, to his great chagrin, 

 came out second Wrangler and second Smith's prizeman. He at once, 

 however, commenced a career of great usefulness to his college 

 and the university at large. Eor a lengthened period he was one of 

 the tutors of his college, associated with the late Dr. Peacock, Dean 

 of Ely, and with Archdeacon Thoi-p, and during this time wrote a 

 series of treatises and text-books on mechanics and other subjects of 

 study required for the university examinations. An astonishing 

 ability for work and a retentive memory made him conspicuous 

 among the numerous eminent men, his cotemporaries, for the many- 

 sidedness of his knowledge, and for the lichness and interest of his 

 conversation. But with a large proportion of the undergraduates, 

 and with many of his equals in academical position, his acknow- 

 ledged greatness was marred by an unfortunate brusqueness of man- 

 ner and a want of respect to the feelings of other men, which he 

 appears never to have fully mastered. 



After joining our Society in 1827, Mr. Whewell was in 1828 ap- 

 pointed Professor of Mineralogy at Cambridge, a position which he 

 held until the year 1832. In 1838 he accepted the Professorship of 

 Casuistry, or Moral Philosophy, one of his favourite subjects; and this 

 he retained until 1855. In 1841 he succeeded Dr. Wordsworth as 

 Master of Trinity College, a dignified and responsible post which he 

 adorned until his death. Actively engaged as he was for so long in 

 the direction of the studies of the College and in the government of 

 the University, his pen appears to have never lain idle. Besides 

 the numerous works more especially devoted to academical subjects, 

 he was the author of one of the Bridgewater Treatises, that on 

 Astronomy, and of sundiy Reports, for the British Association, on 

 Tides and on the Mathematical Theories of Heat, Magnetism, and 

 Electricity. Among the first to recognize the value of the revival of 

 Gothic architecture, he published a suggestive and talented sketch, 

 founded on his visits to the Continent, in ' Architectural Notes on 

 Churches in France and Germany.' In 1837 he brought out the 

 result of a long course of study in the ' History of the Inductive 

 Sciences,' and in 1840 followed it up with the ' Philosophy of the 

 Inductive Sciences,' a work which, although in some points per- 

 haps too hastily completed and requiring revision, must long stand 

 as a remarkable monument of philosophical thought and varied 

 learning. 



At the meetings of the British Association he took an active part, 

 and in 1841 had the honour of being President of that body. In 

 later years he published several books on topics nearly connected 

 with his Professorship, viz. two volumes on ' Morality,' a transla- 

 tion of the ' Ethical Dialogues of Plato,' a volume of Sermons, and 

 a new edition of Sir James Mackintosh's ' Introduction to Ethical 

 Philosophy ;' whilst the versatility of his genius was exemplified in 

 his appearing as the author of ' Specimens of English Hexameters,' 

 in association with Sir John Herschel and Archdeacon Hare. 



Mr. WheweU was President of this Society in 1838, a period of great 

 bridiancy in its annals, as witnessing some of the most remarkable 



VOL. XXIII. c 



