Page:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Vol 4.djvu/91

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The Treasurer announced from the Chair that a deputation of the Society, consisting of His Royal Highness the President, the Vice- Presidents, Treasurer, Secretaries, and other Members of the Council, waited yesterday on Her Majesty, for the purpose of receiving Her Majesty's signature in the Charter-book of the Society, as Patroness of the Royal Society, when Her Majesty was graciously pleased to inscribe her name accordingly ; on which occasion His Royal High- ness made the following address :

" May it please your Majesty,

" In obedience to your gracious Commands, the President and the Council of the Royal Society for the promotion of Natural Knowledge noAV appear in your Royal presence, humbly to tender the register of its Members for the insertion of your au- gust signature.

"Our very name and the recollection of our first institution prompt and encourage us to look up to Your Majesty as our Patron and Protector ; and which, by this especial act of your favour, will confirm to the Society the assurance so graciously communicated to us, in your name, by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in reply to the dutiful Address we had the honour to present to your Majesty on your accession.

" Permit me. Most Gracious Sovereign, to avail myself of this opportunity to express to your Majesty, in the name and on the behalf of the Fellows of the Royal Society, their gra- titude for your munificent grant of two Gold Medals annually, for the encouragement of Science in its different branches ; and more especially for allowing the Council so to alter for the pre- sent year the statute regulating the distribution of them, as to render it available and conformable to the view for which it was framed.

" Peace, Navigation and Commerce, are as necessary to the growth of Literature, as to the intercourse with the Natural World.

" Of these blessings we were already in possession when Your Majesty ascended the Throne of your Ancestors. That such may continue to exist and thrive in this happy country during a longj prosperous, and useful reign, with every other earthly