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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 Rev。 Mr。 Ellis。
The annual amount is too trifling to stimulate to any extraordinary exertions； yet； small as it is； it might； if properly applied； be productive of much advantage to religion； and of great honour to the Society。 For this purpose； it would be desirable that it should be delivered at some church or chapel； more likely to he attended by members of the Royal Society。 Notice of it should be given at the place of worship appointed； at least a week previous to its delivery； and at the two preceding weekly meetings of the Royal Society。 The name of the gentleman nominated for that year； and the church at which the sermon is to be preached； should be stated。
With this publicity attending it； and by a judicious selection of the first two or three gentlemen appointed to deliver it； it would soon be esteemed an honour to be invited to compose such a lecture； and the Society might always find in its numerous list of members or aspirants； persons well qualified to fulfil a task as beneficial for the promotion of true religion； as it ever must be for the interest of science。 I am tempted to believe that such a course would call forth exertions of the most valuable character； as well as give additional circulation to what is already done on that subject。
The geological speculations which have been adduced； perhaps with too much haste by some； as according with the Mosaic history； and by others； as inconsistent with its truth； would； if this subject had been attentively considered； have been allowed to remain until the fullest and freest inquiry had irrevocably fixed their claim to the character of indisputable facts。 But； I will not press this subject further on my reader's attention； lest he should think I am myself delivering the lecture。 All that I could have said on this point has been so much more ably stated by one whose enlightened view of geological science has taken away some difficulties from its cultivators； and； I hope； removed a stumbling…block from many respectable individuals； that I should only weaken by adding to the argument。 ＇I allude to the critique of Dr。 Ure's Geology in the British Review； for July； 1829； an Essay； equally worthy of a philosopher and a Christian。＇
SECTION 10。
OF THE CROONIAN LECTURE。
The payment ＇Three pounds。＇ for this Lecture； like that of the preceding； is small。 It was instituted by Dr。 Croone； for an annual essay on the subject of Muscular Motion。 It is a little to be regretted； that it should have been so restricted； and perhaps its founder； had he foreseen the routine into which it has dwindled； might have endeavoured to preserve it； by affording it a wider range。
By giving it to a variety of individuals； competition might have been created； and many young anatomists have been induced to direct their attention to the favourite inquiry of the founder of the Lecture； but from causes which need not here be traced； this has not been the customone individual has monopolized it year after year； and it seems； like the Fairchild Lecture； rather to have been regarded as a pension。 There have； however； been some intervals； and we are still under obligations to those who have supported THE SYSTEM； for not appointing Sir Everard Home to read the Croonian Lecture twenty years in SUCCESSION。 Had it been otherwise； we might have heard of vested rights。
SECTION 11。
OF THE CAUSES OF THE PRESENT STATE OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY。
The best friends of the Royal Society have long admitted； whilst they regretted； its declining fame； and even those who support whatever exists； begin a little to doubt whether it might not possibly be amended。
The great and leading cause of the present state to which the Royal Society is reduced； may be traced to years of misrule to which it has been submitted。 In order to understand this； it will be necessary to explain the nature of that misrule； and the means employed in perpetuating it。
It is known； that by the statutes； the body of the Society have the power of electing； annually； their President； Officers； and Council； and it is also well known； that this is a merely nominal power； and that printed lists are prepared and put into the hands of the members on their entering the room； and thus passed into the balloting box。 If these lists were； as in other scientific societies； openly discussed in the Council； and then offered by them as recommendations to the Society； little inconvenience would arise； but the fact is； that they are private nominations by the President； usually without notice； to the Council； and all the supporters of the system which I am criticizing； endeavour to uphold the right of this nomination in the President； and prevent or discourage any alteration。
The Society has； for years； been managed by a PARTY； or COTERIE； or by whatever other name may be most fit to designate a combination of persons； united by no expressed compact or written regulations； but who act together from a community of principles。 That each individual has invariably supported al