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I do not think it necessary, Gentlemen, to apologize to you for 

 thus enlarging upon topics, which, though personal in some respect 

 to myself, cannot be altogether destitute of interest to you ; inas- 

 much as it undoubtedly concerns you to understand distinctly the 

 principles by which I have regulated my conduct hitherto whilst 

 filling this Chair, and to which I shall continue to adhere in case I 

 should be honoured by being re-elected to it. And I am the more 

 anxious that they should be generally known, in consequence of 

 some circumstances which attended my election last year. If any 

 angry or uneasy feelings were called forth upon that occasion, I can 

 assure you that I do not, nor ever did, partake in them ; and it would 

 be a source of the most heartfelt pride to me if I could witness their 

 entire extinction in a cordial cooperation amongst all our members 

 to promote the advancement of science and the common honour of 

 our country; to fulfil, in short, the solemn obligation imposed upon 

 us individually and collectively by our charter, to promote the good 

 of the Royal Society, established for the advancement of natural 

 knowledge, and to pursue the ends for which it was originally 

 founded. 



Having ventured to say thus much upon a subject of some deli- 

 cacy, though in no respect painful to myself, I trust that I may be 

 permitted to add a few words more upon another topic which is 

 nearly connected with it, and which is to express my respect for the 

 accomplished philosopher to whom I had the honour, I will not say 

 misfortune, to find myself opposed last year. His name has been 

 familiar to me from my earliest years, for it is that of one whom my 

 Royal Father delighted to patronize, and which is inscribed in im- 

 perishable characters upon the great monuments of the universe, 

 the knowledge of which he contributed so greatly to extend. I 

 knew that venerable man when full of years and of honour, and I 

 can well conceive the feelings of placid triumph and pride with 

 which he must have contemplated the rising promise of his son. 

 What the maturer fruits of that early promise have been, it is not 

 necessary for me to state when addressing the members of this 

 Society : it is sufficient to say, that there is no one among the most 

 illustrious men of England whom the concurrent voice of his coun- 

 trymen would have pointed out as more worthy of the distinguished 

 and peculiar mark of royal favour and approbation which he has so 

 recently received than Sir John Herschel. Towards such a man I 

 can entertain no feelings but those of admiration, respect and good- 

 will, and which I trust, if fed by a more intimate acquaintance, will 

 ultimately lead to those of sincere friendship. 



The labours of your Council during the past year have been more 

 than commonly important, and have been directed to objects which 

 deeply concern the welfare, good government and general utility of 

 our establishment. For the particulars of those labours I must refer 

 you to the Report which has been so ably drawn up by one of your 

 Secretaries, Dr. Roget, and which will be read to you by him at the 

 conclusion of this Address. I trust, however, that in one particular 



