9 
A detailed explanation was also entered into, showing in what 
way the cultivation of science would be promoted, by providing 
suitable accommodation for the scientific societies. Carleton ride 
was suggested as a convenient situation, and other sites were named 
in the same neighbourhood. 
Reference was made to the suggested site at Kensington, and it was 
explained that it would be inconvenient to a large proportion of the 
working men of the Societies, many of them engaged in business, and 
whose time was most valuable, that they would be unable to attend 
regularly, and that the usefulness of the Societies would be thereby 
greatly impaired. It was also intimated that the purchase of a large 
tract of land at Kensington did not materially affect the question ; 
as a small space would be sufficient for all the Societies, and there- 
fore that a free grant at Kensington could be but little object. Should 
the Government accede to the Memorial, I presume that then the 
Societies will be regularly consulted. The site will then be pointed 
out, the plan of the building laid before you, and you will form your 
own opinion ; you will decide whether to remain as you are, or to 
accept the enlarged accommodation, which the far-sighted liberality 
of the nation will have provided for you. 
The interests of science appear to me to be deeply involved in the 
question of providing a suitable building for the Scientific Societies. 
It is a practical question, and we must look at it in all its bearino-s, 
as men of the world. Had there been no Societies, science would 
not therefore have stood still ; but its progress would have been 
much slower. The desire of discovering the truth, which is so 
strongly implanted in every educated mind, would have been to 
some a sufficient motive for exertion ; but the aid and inspiriting 
influence of association would have been wanting, and many active 
members of our scientific bodies would probably never have taken 
up science as a pursuit at all. The love of ease, the fascinations of 
society, the little prospect of advancing their material interests, 
through the path of scientific discovery, would have been to them a 
sufficient excuse for indolence. This point was very well put at the 
last Anniversar}', by one of the distinguished men to whom you award- 
ed a medal ; he said, had he been like Robinson Crusoe on a desert 
island; the desire of discovering the truth would have been an induce- 
ment to work, but to obtain the good opinion of his fellow-men, 
associated together, was with him avery strong additional inducement. 
If a man, naturally gifted, and well-educated, attends scientific meet- 
ings, he will feel himself constrained to work, and therefore it is so 
important for the advancement of knowledge, that able men should be 
induced to join and attend the different societies ; but nothing I think 
would have greater attractions than a building in a convenient central 
situation, where the business of science would be transacted, where 
there would be access to the best libraries, and where that kind of 
society most valued by scientific men would always be within reach. 
Where the question is, shall a great country like England provide 
a suitable place of meeting for its scientific bodies, I should hope 
