1004 



there were not often constants to be determined at an expense of 

 time and labour, which it would be a lavish waste to require from 

 men of genius actually engaged in prosecuting original discovery. 

 There was, I may add, in addition, the experience of the British 

 Association and of foreign Governments. That there were men 

 amongst us able and willing to enter the many tempting fields of 

 scientific inquiry no one could doubt, — men ready to labour for us 

 assiduously, provided that in doing so they were not called upon 

 to make too great a sacrifice. As to abuses, it was evident that the 

 Committee would frame regulations so as not only to make abuse 

 impossible, but to remove all reasonable grounds even for the sus- 

 picion of abuse. 



Soon after their appointment the Committee laid down certain 

 rules and certain general principles for their guidance, which, al- 

 though not irrevocably binding, nevertheless stand as precedents 

 not lightly to be disregarded. The rule, that in every case there 

 should be a Committee of three Fellows charged with the responsi- 

 bility of seeing that the intentions of the Council in making the 

 grant were strictly carried out, is in my opinion of great import- 

 ance. Without such a rule it is probable that many of our ablest 

 men, from a feeling of delicacy, coupled with an apprehension of a 

 vague, indefinite responsibility, would hesitate to accept assistance. 

 I will not detain you by entering into any further particulars, as all 

 the proceedings are recorded on the Minutes of Council, to which 

 you have access ; but I am happy to be able to say, that although 

 the season was far advanced before the intentions of the Council seem 

 to have been generally understood, still there were many applica- 

 tions from men of eminence engaged in carrying out important ob- 

 jects, and even on this the first occasion there was no difficulty in 

 making an effective appropriation of the grant. 



Looking to the future, I think we may venture to anticipate that 

 Parliament will annually place a similar sum at our disposal, so long 

 as we can usefully employ it ; and that while we shall thus be enabled 

 to advance science in certain directions where otherwise we could 

 have effected but little, we shall remain as free to exercise our own 

 unbiassed judgements, and as perfectly independent as at any pre- 

 vious period of our history. 



In this age of progress, when each month has its new facts, it 

 would be vain to take a general survey of the discoveries of the year 

 with a view of pointing out a certain number as the most important : 

 experience has shown that time often affords the only real test of 

 comparative value, as some discoveries apparently the most pro- 

 mising have in the end proved utterly barren ; while others, at first 

 sight of little moment, have led to the most brilliant results. It 

 would be impossible, however, to look through the scientific publi- 

 cations of the year, however cursorily, without perceiving that much 

 had been done. Our continental neighbours have been as energetic 

 and as successful as usual ; and I am sure you have been happy to 

 observe, that in the United States, in the midst of the business and 

 all-engrossing^ pursuits of a new country, science is engaging in- 



