ch had
long been familiar to Europe. The Council were just on the point of
doing justice to the merits of the Prussian philosopher, when it was
suggested that its medal should be given to Dr. Wollaston, and they
immediately altered their intention, and thus enabled themselves to
reserve their medal to Professor Mitscherlick for another year; at
which period, for aught they knew, his discoveries might possess the
additional merit of having been made prior to the limit allowed by their
regulations. That medal was, in fact, voted at a meeting, at which no
one member present was at all conversant with the subjects rewarded. I
shall, however, say no more on this subject. They erred from feeling,
an error so very rare with them, that it might be pardoned even for its
singularity.

I will, however, add one word to those whose censures have been unjustly
dealt, to those who have reproached the philosopher for receiving
pecuniary advantage from his inventions.

Amongst the many and varied contrivances for the demands of science,
or the arts of life, with which we were enriched by the genius of
Wollaston, was it too much to allow him to retain, during his fleeting
career, one out of the multitude, to furnish that: pecuniary supply,
without which, the man will want food for his body, and the philosopher
be destitute of tools for his inventions? Had he been, as, from the rank
he held in science, he certainly would have been in other kingdoms, rich
in the honours his country could bestow, and receiving from her a reward
in some measure commensurate with his deserts,--then, indeed, there
might have been reason for that reproach; but I am convinced that,
in such circumstances, the philosopher would have balanced, with no
"niggard" hand, the claims of his country, and would have given to it,
unreservedly, the produce of his powerful mind.

SECTION 9. OF THE FAIRCHILD LECTURE.

Mr. Fairchild left by will twenty-five pounds to the Royal Society. This
was increased by several subscriptions, and 100L. 3 per cent. South
Sea Annuities was purchased, the interest of which was to be devoted
annually to pay for a sermon to be preached at St.Leonard's, Shoreditch.

Few members of the Society, perhaps, are aware, either of the bequest or
of its annual payment. I shall merely observe, that for five years,
from 1800 to 1804, it was regularly given to Mr. Ascough; and that for
twenty-six years past, it has been as regularly given to the R