860 



It would have been impossible, however, to have suffered the first 

 opportunity, that of the June Meeting, to have passed by, without 

 expressing to the Fellows then present my deep sense of obligation 

 for the honour they had conferred upon me, and without thanking 

 the Council individually and collectively, for the kind manner in 

 which they had been always most ready to assist. I am anxious now 

 in a more formal manner to return my thanks, both to the Society 

 and to the Council. 



It was not without considerable doubt and apprehension that I 

 ventured to undertake the duties of President : the doubts did not 

 arise from any exaggerated estimate of the difficulty of the duties to 

 be performed, from any mistaken idea that acquirements at once the 

 most varied and the most profound were necessary. Had I thought 

 so, without a moment's hesitation I should have declined the office, 

 knowing there were other Fellows whose qualifications would have 

 approached more nearly the required standard; but I did appre- 

 hend that it vrould not be in my power, or indeed in the power of 

 any one actively engaged in the pursuit of practical astronomy, to 

 give that amount of personal attendance during the winter months 

 which might be required, not perhaps for the transaction of real 

 business, but as a proper mark of respect from the President to the 

 Society. It is only during the long dark nights, when there is a 

 clear sky and no moon, that efrective search can be made in the re- 

 mote regions of the universe ; and as favourable opportunities are 

 rare, and once lost are sometimes lost for the season, frequent abs- 

 ence from the observatory during the winter would very seriously 

 interfere with the progress of Nebular Astronomy. After Easter the 

 nights are short ; comparatively little can be done ; the work is 

 light, and may safely be entrusted to the care of an able assistant. 

 When therefore it was intimated to me, most unexpectedly, that my 

 name had been mentioned in connection with the vacancy about to 

 be created by the retirement of Lord Northampton, I at once apprised 

 my friends M'ho were on the spot of the doubts and difficulties I felt, 

 and above all, that nothing would be to me a source of more pro- 

 found regret, than if elected, to find myself unable fully to meet the 

 wishes of the Society. In return, having received the strongest 

 assurances, that under all the circumstances the Societ}" would make 

 great allowance, and that constant attendance after Easter, and 

 attendance on such other occasions as real business required it, 

 would be deemed quite sufficient, my doubts were removed, and I 

 resolved, if elected, at least to do my utmost to meet your wishes. 

 The soirees had previously been held before Easter ; but in that 

 there was no difficulty, as all seemed to concur that after Easter 

 would be quite as convenient. To the soirees I attach much im- 

 portance : I think it very important that scientific men should have 

 an opportunity of meeting each other : I think it very desirable in 

 this country that classes should be brought together, and therefore 

 I am convinced that my predecessor acted wisely in extending the 

 invitations to his soirees beyond the precincts of the Royal Society. 

 I further think that the soirees should be on such a scale, and so 



