859 



of the many distinguished men of science, who, coming from the 

 universities, or their varied occupations in the country, are usually 

 to be found in the metropolis after Easter. Other reasons were 

 assigned more or less cogent, and in 1845 it was announced that 

 the Council had concurred in the expediency of changing the Anni- 

 versary from November to June. In 1846 nothing was done; but 

 in 1847 it was settled that there should be annually a General 

 Meeting in June, the business being the election of the Fellows ; 

 the presentation of the Medals ; the annual Address of the President, 

 and the annual Obituary. Great doubts having arisen whether, with- 

 out a new Charter, the time for the election of the Council and Officers 

 could legally be altered, in that respect no change was made. The 

 following year the first of the June meetings took place ; the Fellows 

 were then elected under the new regulations ; and had my distin- 

 guished predecessor continued in office, with his long experience 

 and thorough knowledge of the business of the Society, the changes 

 resolved upon would probably have been fully carried out in June 

 1849. However, as June approached there were evidently difficul- 

 ties ; the time appeared to be too short for due deliberation in the 

 award of the Medals, and even for procuring the necessary informa- 

 tion for the obituaries, and there seemed to be no other choice but 

 to abandon the attempt on that occasion of anticipating in June the 

 business of the November Meeting. 



That the wishes of the Society were not fully carried out in J une 

 1849, was probably owing to my inexperience : it certainly was not 

 owing to any want of zeal, or to an indistinct perception of the im- 

 portance of the change which had been resolved upon. To have con- 

 sidered any change resolved upon by Council unimportant, would 

 have been impossible ; but in this instance the reasons which had 

 been assigned for the change appeared to me to have been rather 

 under than overstated. Even the mere question of convenience, 

 constituted as society is in this country, is of obvious importance. 

 How many young men of great ability, and perhaps ample fortune 

 and high position, destined, as we might have flattered ourselves, to 

 render science essential service, who having obtained the honours 

 which our universities award to great scientific merit, have forsaken 

 science at once ! Had they sought admission here, no doubt we 

 should have gladly welcomed them ; and once fairly enlisted in the 

 cause and actively employed, there is something so inspiriting in 

 the example of others, something in the power of association so 

 eminently calculated to draw forth all the exertions of which human 

 nature is capable, that there would have been little danger of their 

 ever afterwards abandoning scientific pursuits. 



To such men, with their country pursuits, a November Session is 

 inconvenient ; quite as much so as to a member of Parliament. To 

 transact the most important business of the year in November, is 

 almost perhaps to repel them from our ranks. 



The presentation of the Medals, and the reading of the Memoirs 

 of deceased Fellows, having been postponed till November, the Ad- 

 dress was postponed also. 



1* 



