PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING. 
109 
tlemen, in the success with which this great and important effort 
for the advancement of science has been crowned. Long may 
our Association flourish, and produce fruits for the benefit of 
others as well as of ourselves! I rejoice in its success, not only 
in an intellectual but in a moral sense : for I believe it may be 
the means of binding together all the portions of this great 
empire, and even of uniting other parts of the world in the same 
bond. It is a refreshing thing for a person like myself, to come 
from the metropolis, from the turmoils of political life, and 
meet with eloquence and ability dedicated entirely to the pro- 
motion of good-fellowship and truth, to see discussion deprived 
of its sting, and those who are elsewhere opposed, brought 
here into cordial intercourse with each other, and made to feel 
that on many points they are able to agree. The pursuits of 
science have a tendency to associate together the whole human 
family; and I cannot hut remark with pleasure, that we have 
had at least one eminent individual from the United States of 
America among us at this time. I hope, Gentlemen, that our 
next Meeting at Cambridge may have more. We must remem¬ 
ber, and I trust our Transatlantic brethren will remember, that 
they and we are sprung from the same race; that we speak the 
same language ; that we equally rejoice in the possession of free 
though of different institutions; that their ancestors as well as 
ours were fellow-countrymen of Bacon and Newton, Milton and 
Shakespeare, and many other great men who have preceded 
us in science and literature. I hope that these feelings of mu¬ 
tual sympathy will ever exist between us and them; and I hope 
that the interests of science will form a bond of intercourse and 
union between us and all the other nations of the world, that 
wars and tumults at last may cease, and that our only emula¬ 
tion may be, who shall become the wisest, and who become the 
best.” 
The President then said, “ Gentlemen, the hour is come for 
the adjournment of this most happy Meeting. I congratulate 
the University of Oxford on the compliment that has been paid 
it by the presence of so many distinguished and illustrious 
strangers, who have honoured us with their company on this 
ever memorable occasion. I congratulate the Association on 
the perfect harmony which has pervaded its Meetings, and on 
the vast and inestimable utility which is likely to result from its 
operations ; I congratulate the British nation that it possesses 
such a Society, comprehending a host of individuals not only 
qualified, but prompt and ready, to come forward and promote 
the general interests of science. Gentlemen, I congratulate 
each individual here present, on the enjoyment of what I con- 
