Proceedings of the British Association. 85 



of my general position. Nor ought I to omit mentioning the Che- 

 mical Society, of whom he was among the founders, as indicative of 

 the spirit of the place, untrammelled hy abstract forms, and eager to 

 spread itself over the whole field of human inquiry. 



Another great and distinguishing feature in the scientific history 

 of this place, is the establishment of its astronomical observatory, 

 and the regular publication of the observations made in it. The 

 science of astronomy is so vast, and its objects so noble, that its 

 practical study for its own sake is quite sufficient to insure its pursuit 

 wherever civilization exists. But such institutions have a much 

 wider influence than that which they exercise in forwarding their 

 immediate object. Every astronomical observatory which publishes 

 its observations, becomes a nucleus for the formation around it of a 

 school of exact practice — a standing and accessible example of the 

 manner in which theories are brought to their extreme test — a centre, 

 from which emanate a continual demand for and suggestion of refine- 

 ments and delicacies, and precautions in matters of observation and 

 apparatus, which re-act upon the whole body of science, and stimulate, 

 while they tend to render possible an equal refinement and precision 

 in all its processes. It is impossible to speak too highly of the mode 

 in which the business of this institution is carried on, under its pre- 

 sent eminent director — nor can it be forgotten in our appreciation of 

 what it has done for science, that in it our present Astronomer-Royal 

 first proved and familiarized himself with that admirable system of 

 astronomical observation, registry, and computation, which he has 

 since brought to perfection in our great national observatory, and 

 which have rendered it, under his direction, the pride and ornament 

 of British Science, and the admiration of Europe. 



Gentlemen, — I should never have done if I were to enlarge on, 

 or even attempt to enumerate the many proofs which this University 

 has afforded of its determination to render its institutions and 

 endowments efficient for the purposes of public instruction, and 

 available to science. But such encomiums, however merited, must 

 not be allowed to encroach too largely on other objects which I pur- 

 pose to bring before your notice, and which relate to the more imme- 

 diate business of the present meeting, and to the general interests of 

 science. The first and every way the most important, is the subject 



