xlvi 
REPORT— 18‘17. 
observers, and ever eminent for Christian principle and devotion, cultivated 
natural science; and without for a moment undervaluing the mighty names 
which do honour to Cambridge—which do more, which do honour to En¬ 
gland and to our common nature—we may claim in Oxford the distinction of 
having nourished and sent forth the men who first laid tlie basis of the 
greatest of the scientific Associations of the world. 
Here, then, The British Association gladly accepts the welcome now ten¬ 
dered to it within this illustrious University. It was cordially received fif¬ 
teen years ago, when this Chair was worthily occupied, and far more appro¬ 
priately than by me, by tny Very reverend friend, Dr. Buckland. I hope 
and believe that the feeling of good-will and respect will be mutual, endu¬ 
ring, and cordial; that The University will see with nle.asure the progress of 
the natural sciences, and of the researches which ’The British Association 
has eminently encouraged; and that the members of our Association will 
look with kindness and respect at tlie venerable seats of ancient learning, 
whence have been diffused through the land for many centuries the bene- 
nts of a large and liberal education, and the blessings of Christian instruc¬ 
tion; where it is the earnest and habitual endeavour of those who teach— 
desire of those who learn—to sanctify the acquirements 
ot the mind by the graces of the Spirit. 
I (eel that! hare very inadequately discharged the duties of the station 
m which [ Imve been placed. Wherever the failure is less apparent, I un- 
tugnedly desire you to attribute such partiid success to the .aid which I have 
nnlTr* I’rofcssor Owen, Mr. Kobert Brown, and Colo- 
unworthy of 
repeat this should have forgotten my earlier mention of them, I 
to call such mpn r «‘ld again, tliat it is enough for me to be allowed 
drawn me . I ^ avocations in later years have with- 
neccssarv for m pursuits of science; yet it was 
add my^Orm belief P'-^gress. /will only 
world will if rioliirv f in our knowledge of the natural 
will prepare us to^ r^^ wf advance us m our knowledge of Himself, and 
verence. revcl.-uion of Ilis will with profounder re- 
<--ili,a.ed .ha progress af 
Other tongues and other t' ^ ‘distant regions men of 
name toTnour the ^ the iS ‘'Lo"’ ' 
Hoeven, Langberg! E^nber- MilncEdwards, Van der 
in one common object. In the r “r*’ Gautier, united here 
he applied withou/irreverence *• m/ ^ rophet Daniel, if they may 
increased.- •'reverence, men travel to and IVo. and knowledge is 
ilay that knowledge be guided aritrlu 
asnct.fied—as the circle widc?nV every acquisition of it be 
of all Truth— and may every science '*‘rected to the Centre 
great Association, or in ^tlie eld!;•>. connexion with 
,ua,y and =hee;f„d;^:L;r.';sr'^ I'tK'Gof"- 
