87 



known, with the view of enabling them to look out for a proper per- 

 son to fill a situation of such dignity in the scientific world, and 

 whose occupation could not fail to be an object of honourable am- 

 bition to men of the most eminent social rank, as well as of the most 

 distinguished scientific attainments. 



I will not attempt to disguise from you, Gentlemen, the feelings of 

 deep and poignant regret I experienced upon taking a step that 

 would thus necessarily abridge the opportunities, which I had as 

 much enjoyed as I had highly prized, of being brought officially 

 into frequent and familiar contact with the most distinguished 

 philosophers of my own or other countries, and of employing 

 whatever influence my station in society enabled me to exert in 

 advocating the just claims and interests of men of science, in pro- 

 moting the objects of their labours, in fostering and encouraging 

 their mutual co-operation and intercourse, and in endeavouring to 

 soothe the violence of personal or national jealousies, whenever they 

 unfortunately existed, by bringing them together in social or other 

 meetings where the discussion of topics of irritation could be either 

 suppressed or controlled, and where imaginary prejudices would 

 disappear under the softening operation of reciprocal knowledge and 

 experience. But though deprived for a season, by my retirement, of 

 some of the highest privileges I have hitherto exercised and enjoyed, 

 yet I do not abandon the hope of being still able to maintain and 

 cultivate the very valuable and delightful friendships which I have 

 thus fortunately for myself been enabled to form during the period 

 of my connection with you, by seizing every occasion when pre- 

 sented to me, of appearing at the meetings of the Royal Society, 

 and by co-operating with its members, to the utmost extent of my 

 limited means, in furthering those objects that may be considered to 

 be most important for the advancement of the interests of science. 



I am afraid however, Gentlemen, that I have already trespassed 

 unreasonably upon your time and attention in endeavouring to ex- 

 plain to you the motives of my conduct, and to express, though most 

 inadequately, my grateful sense of the kindness which I have inva- 

 riably experienced from you. I shall therefore now proceed to the 

 more immediate subject of this Address, which is to notice some of 

 the most important Proceedings of the Society which have taken 

 place during the last year. 



The Address voted to Her Majesty by the President and Council 

 of the Royal Society, on the Queen's accession to the throne, em- 

 bodying likewise u petition to Her Majesty to become the Patron 

 of the Society, and to continue to it the Grant of the Medals which 

 had been instituted by King George the Fourth and regranted 

 by William the Fourth, as well as the gracious reply of the Sove- 

 reign, transmitted through the Secretary of State for the Home 

 Department, have been already communicated to you at one of the 

 weekly meetings of the Society*. On the 20th of June last, the 

 President and Council were summoned to attend at the Palace of 



* June 21, 1838. 



