the best qualified to aid in
reforming the Society, is a question I shall not discuss. With regard
to the senior Secretary, the time of his holding office is perhaps more
unfortunate than the circumstance. If I might be permitted to allude
for a moment to his personal character, I should say that the mild
excellencies of his heart have prevented the Royal Society from deriving
the whole of that advantage from his varied knowledge and liberal
sentiments which some might perhaps have anticipated; and many will
agree with me in regretting that his judgment has not directed a larger
portion of the past deeds of the Councils of the Royal Society. Of the
junior Secretary I shall only observe, that whilst I admit his industry,
his perseverance, and his talents, I regret to see such valuable
qualities exerted at a disadvantage, and that I sincerely wish them
all the success they merit in situations more adapted for their
developement.

There are, however, some general principles which it may be important to
investigate, which relate to the future as well as to the past state of
the office of Secretary of the Royal Society. Inconvenience has already
arisen from having had at a former period one of our Secretaries the
conductor of a scientific journal; and this is one of the points in
which I can agree with those who now manage the affairs of the Society.
[These observations were written previous to the late appointment, to
which I now devote Section 6. Experience seems to be lost on the Council
of the Royal Society.] Perhaps it might be advantageous to extend the
same understanding to the other officers of the Society at least, if not
to the members of its Council.

Another circumstance worthy of the attention of the Society is, to
consider whether it is desirable, except in special cases, to have
military persons appointed to any of its offices. There are several
peculiarities in the military character, which, though they do not
absolutely unfit their possessors for the individual prosecution of
science, may in some degree disqualify such persons from holding offices
in scientific institutions. The habits both of obedience and command,
which are essential in military life, are little fitted for that perfect
freedom which should reign in the councils of science. If a military
chief commit an oversight or an error, it is necessary, in order to
retain the confidence of those he commands, to conceal or mask it as
much as possible