1883.] 



Presidents Address. 



73 



share that opinion ; but I think it may be permitted me to say that, 

 should you think fit to give effect to it, there is no one who will more 

 cheerfully acquiesce in your decision than I shall. 



To a man like myself, who neither possesses, nor seeks, any other 

 distinction than that of having done his best to advance knowledge 

 and to uphold the worth and the authority of Science against all 

 comers, the Presidency of this Society is the highest dignity which 

 he can attain, whatever else may befall him. 



But, Gentlemen, as men of science, you know better than I can tell 

 you, that there are things of more worth than distinction. I am 

 within measurable distance of the end of my career ; and I have long 

 looked forward to the time when I should be able to escape from the 

 distractions and perturbations of the multitudinous affairs in which T 

 have been so long entangled, to that student life from which the 

 Fates have driven me, but to which I trust they may, for a little space, 

 permit me to return. 



So that I am sure you will neither misunderstand me, nor mislike 

 my directness of speech, when I say that, if it please you to believe that 

 the interests of Science and of the Royal Society will be advanced by 

 maintaining me in the very distinguished position which I at present 

 occupy, I will do my best to justify your confidence ; but if, as may 

 well be, you think that some other Fellow of the Society will serve 

 these interests better, I shall, with a light heart, transfer to him the 

 honourable burden, which I have already borne long enough to know 

 its weight. 



I now proceed to the presentation of the medals which have this 

 year been awarded by the Council. 



The President then proceeded to the presentation of the Medals : — 



The number, the variety, and the importance of Sir William 

 Thomson's contributions to mathematical and experimental physics 

 are matters of common knowledge, and the Fellows of the Society 

 will be more gratified than surprised to hear that the Council have 

 this year awarded him the Copley Medal, the highest honour which it 

 is in their power to bestow. 



Sir William Thomson has taken a foremost place among those to 

 whom the remarkable development of the theory of thermodynamics 

 and of electricity, in the last forty years, is due ; his share in the 

 experimental treatment of these subjects has been no less con- 

 siderable ; while his constructive ability in applying science to practice 

 is manifested by the number of instruments, bearing his name, which 

 are at present in use in the physical laboratory and in the telegraph 

 office. 



Moreover, in propounding his views on the universal dissipation 



