Extracts from Resolutions of the General Committee. Committees and individuals, to whom grants of money for scientific purposes have been entrusted, are required to present to each following meeting of the Association a Report of the progress which has been made; with a statement of the sums which have been expended, and the balance which remains disposable on each grant.

Grants of pecuniary aid for scientific purposes from the funds of the Association expire at the ensuing meeting, unless it shall appear by a Report that the Recommendations have been acted on, or a continuation of them be ordered by the General Committee.

In each Committee, the Member first named is the person entitled to call on the Treasurer, John Taylor, Esq., 6 Queen Street Place, Upper Thames Street, London, for such portion of the sum granted as may from time to time be required.

In grants of money to Committees, the Association does not contemplate the payment of personal expenses to the members.

In all cases where additional grants of money are made for the continuation of Researches at the cost of the Association, the sum named shall be deemed to include, as a part of the amount, the specified balance which may remain unpaid on the former grant for the same object.

General Meetings.

On Wednesday, June 27, at 4 P.M., in the Sheldonian Theatre, His Royal Highness, the Prince Consort, resigned the office of President to The Lord Wrottesley, F.R.S., who took the Chair and delivered an Address, for which see page lv.

On Thursday Evening, June 28, at 8 P.M., a Conversazione took place in the University Museum.

On Friday Afternoon, June 29, at 4 P.M., in the Sheldonian Theatre, the Rev. Professor Walker, F.R.S., delivered a Discourse on the Physical Constitution of the Sun.

On Friday Evening, the University Museum was opened for a Soirée with Experiments.

On Monday Afternoon, July 2, at 2 P.M., in the Sheldonian Theatre, Captain Sherard Osborn, R.N., delivered a Discourse on Arctic Discovery. On Monday Evening, at 8 P.M., a Conversazione took place in the University Museum.

On Tuesday Evening, July 3, at 8 P.M., the University Museum was opened for a Soirée with Microscopes.

On Wednesday, July 4, at 3 P.M., the concluding General Meeting took place in the Sheldonian Theatre, when the Proceedings of the General Committee, and the Grants of Money for Scientific purposes, were explained to the Members.

The Meeting was then adjourned to Manchester*.

*The Meeting is appointed to take place on Wednesday, the 4th of September, 1861.

ADDRESS

BY

THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD WROTTESLEY.

GENTLEMEN,-If, on taking this Chair for the first time as your President, I do not enlarge upon my deficiencies for adequately filling the responsible office to which you have done me the honour to elect me, I hope you will believe that I am not the less sensible of them.

Your last Meeting was held under the Presidency of one not more distinguished by his high rank and exalted station than by his many excellent qualities, and the discriminating interest which he has ever manifested in the promotion of Art and Science. It was one of the most successful Meetings on record.

We are now once more assembled in this ancient and venerable seat of learning; and the first topic of interest which presents itself to me, who owe to Oxford what academic training I have received, is the contrast presented by the state of Science and the teaching of Science in this University in the Autumn of the year 1814, when my residence here commenced, and for five years afterwards, with its present condition. As the private pupil of the late Dr. Kidd, and within a few yards of the spot from which I have now the honour to inaugurate the Meeting of this distinguished Association, I first imbibed that love of Science from which some of the purest pleasures of my life have been derived; and I cannot mention the name of my former Tutor without acknowledging the deep debt of gratitude I owe to the memory of that able, conscientious and single-hearted man.

It was at this period that a small knot of Geologists, headed by Broderip, Buckland, the two Conybeares and Kidd, had begun to stimulate the curiosity of the Students and resident Graduates by Lectures and Geological excursions in the neighbourhood of this town. The lively illustrations of Buckland, combined with genuine talent, by degrees attracted crowds to his teaching, and the foundations of that interesting science, already advancing under the illustrious Cuvier in France, and destined soon to spread over Europe, were at this time fairly laid in England within these classical Halls. Many a time in those days have my studies been agreeably interrupted by the

cheerful laugh which invariably accompanied the quaint and witty terms in which Buckland usually announced to his brother Geologist some new discovery, or illustrated the facts and principles of his favourite science. At the time, however, to which I refer, the study of physical science was chiefly confined to a somewhat scanty attendance on the Chemical Lectures of Dr. Kidd, and on those on Experimental Philosophy by Rigaud; and in pure mathematics the fluxional notation still kept its ground. In the year 1818 Vince's Astronomy, and in the following year the Differential Notation, was first introduced in the mathematical examinations for honours. At that time that fine foundation the Radcliffe Observatory was wholly inactive; the observer was in declining health, and the establishment was neither useful to astronomical students, nor did it contribute in any way to the advancement of Astronomical Science. Even from the commencement of the present century, and in proportion as the standard of acquirement in classical learning was gradually raised by the emulation excited by the examinations for honours, the attendance on the above-mentioned Lectures gradually declined: but a similar cause enhanced the acquirements of students in pure and applied Mathematics, and the University began to number among its Graduates and Professors men of great eminence in those departments of knowledge. Nor were the other sciences neglected; and as Chairs became vacant or new Professorships were established, men of European reputation were appointed to fill them. In proof of all this I need only direct attention to the names on the roll of Secretaries, Vice-Presidents and Presidents of Sections, to convince you that Oxford now contains among her resident Graduates, men amply qualified to establish and advance the scientific fame of that University, of which they are the distinguished ornaments.

On the progress of Astronomy I will, as becomes me, enter into more detail. And it is not without pain that I allude to this subject, because I am reminded that one has been removed from among us by the hand of death, whom I had looked forward to meeting again on this occasion with peculiar pleasure. I never knew any one who had the interests of science more truly at heart, or laboured more diligently to advance them, than the late Radcliffe Observer, Mr. Manuel Johnson. By his exertions and indefatigable zeal the Radcliffe Observatory was enabled to take its proper place among the Scientific Institutions of the world. By the liberality of the Trustees and by the exertion of his influence, new instruments were purchased, and an extensive series of valuable astronomical observations was made; and, what is quite as important, they were regularly reduced and published. In addition to all this, a noble array of self-recording meteorological instruments was brought into action, and their records duly reduced and co-ordinated. I was myself a candidate in 1839 for that office to which Mr. Johnson was then appointed, and I have often rejoiced that I was not successful, as it would have retarded for a time the promotion of one, to whom Astronomy owes a deep debt of gratitude. Mr. Johnson was suddenly taken from us at a time

when he was in the full carcer of his useful labours, and there are few labourers in science whose loss has been more deplored. The University has very lately lost another learned Professor, and myself another valued friend, whose contributions to science are well known and duly esteemed. The great tragic Poet of Greece introduces his hero accusing his heathen gods of rescuing from the grave the vile and worthless, and sending thither the good and useful:—

τὰ δὲ δίκαια καὶ τὰ χρηστὰ ἀποστέλλουσιν ἀεί.

Our purer faith in meek resignation trusts that they are removed from evil to come, and that there at least they rest from their labours-rest from earthly toil and trouble, but awake, may be, to higher aims and aspirations, and with nobler faculties and duties.

Although a successor may be appointed to Mr. Johnson, who will, I doubt not, admirably discharge the duties of Radcliffe Observer, I fear that the Observatory may not continue to maintain its high reputation, unless a sufficient staff of Assistants be appointed to aid the Observer in his labours. There is no mistake more fatal in Astronomy than that of multiplying instrumental means without providing an adequate supply of hands to employ them.

I have already alluded to some particulars in which this great University has advanced in the career of scientific improvement, but everything else has been somewhat thrown into the shade by the important event of this year, the opening of the new Museum. The University could have given no more substantial proof of a sincere interest in the diffusion of science than the foundation of this noble Institution, and I am sure that among the distinguished cultivators of science here assembled, there is not one who does not entertain a hearty desire for the success of the various efforts now in progress for the purpose of stimulating our University Students to a closer contemplation and more diligent study of the glorious works of Nature; a study, which, if prosecuted earnestly, raises us in the scale of human beings and improves every moral and intellectual faculty. Towards the attainment of a result so much to be desired the Museum will most powerfully contribute, and those who frequent it will owe deep obligations to Mr. Hope and the other benefactors who have generously added to its stores. But there are other causes in operation which tend to the same end; and among them, in addition to such improvements as arise out of the changes consequent on the recent Act of Parliament, may be mentioned the alteration in the distribution of University Honours.

The institution of the School of Physical Science forms a most important feature in the recent changes, and will doubtless be productive of good results, provided that sufficient encouragement by way of reward be held out to those whose tastes lead them to devote themselves to those departments of knowledge, and that the compulsory arrangements in respet of other studies