35 



His Royal Highness proceeded to state, that himself, attended 

 by the Council, had afterwards the honour of presenting the follow- 

 ing Address to Her Majesty, by whom they were most graciously re- 

 ceived. 



" To the Queen's Most Gracious Majesty, 

 " May it please Your Majesty, 



" As President of the Royal Society of London for improving na- 

 tural knowledge, permit me, Madam, on behalf of that body, to lay 

 before Your Majesty an humble but sincere avowal of the deep 

 respect and entire attachment which every Member of our Society 

 entertains for Your Majesty's most gracious person, for the Royal 

 and illustrious Consort of our beloved and venerated Monarch, His 

 Most Gracious Majesty King William the Fourth. 



" It is not, perhaps, unknown to Your Majesty, that the Society 

 over which I have the honour to preside, was incorporated in the 

 reign of King Charles the Second ; and, by the especial favour of 

 that monarch, it was designated The Royal Society, — a distinction 

 which every succeeding monarch of these realms has been pleased 

 to continue. 



" A sense of duty and gratitude has led us, in the first instance, to 

 offer up our tribute of condolence and congratulation to the King's 

 Most Excellent Majesty, on the demise of our late revered Sove- 

 reign, and upon his own accession to the crown of his ancestors. 



" Having discharged this duty to our Patron, and having just ob- 

 tained his Royal Signature, we now venture to request Your Ma- 

 jesty's powerful support and cheering protection ; and that Your 

 Majesty will be graciously pleased to receive us into your Royal Fa- 

 vour. Our humble expectations rest on the ground of public utility. 

 The great object of our Institution has been, and will, we trust, long 

 continue to be, the promotion of natural science in all its branches. 

 With our success in this respect, the prosperity of our common 

 country is closely and indissolubly connected. 



" Accept then, Royal Madam, the assurances of our duty and al- 

 legiance ; and suffer us, in conclusion, to express our warmest wishes 

 for Your Majesty's uninterrupted welfare and peace. 



" May the great Giver of all good pour down his blessings on your 

 royal person ! May it be consistent with the wise and merciful dis- 

 pensations of his Providence, that, together with Your Majesty, our 

 generous and beloved Sovereign may long continue to watch over 

 the interests, and to direct the labours, of a free, loyal, and united 

 people !" 



To which Her Majesty was pleased to return the following most 

 gracious answer. 



ef I thank you very cordially for your expressions of affectionate 

 attachment towards myself, and dutiful congratulations towards the 

 King, on his accession to the throne of his ancestors. 



" Firmly convinced as I am that the diffusion of natural science, 

 guarded and protected by religion and morality, must be conducive 



