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THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 



(Delivered at the Annual General Meeting, July 26th, 1879, ) 

 By Professor Huxley, F.R.S. 



In coming before you this evening, I should be glad if you will not 

 consider the few observations which I am about to make, as repre- 

 senting anything so formal or serious as an Address, partly because 

 an Address, in the ordinary sense of the term, is hardly so suited to 

 the character of a Club as something of a more conversational 

 character ; and partly from personal reasons, — for it happens that 

 owing to the undoubtedly fresh and open, but rather severe winter 

 through which we are at present passing, 1 find myself with very 

 little voice this evening, and fear that I shall have still less by the 

 time I conclude. 



Since I have held the honourable position of President of the 

 Club, my attendance at your meetings has impressed me very strongly 

 with the great amount of instrumental perfection which is to be 

 observed on those occasions ; and I do not think that any one could 

 fail to be struck with the skill displayed in such work, nor could he 

 fail to admire the great patience, the perseverance, the devotion of 

 time and energy displayed by the members of the Club in the pur- 

 suit of microscopy. 



No doubt one might say that a very large result of this activity 

 is simple amusement ; but I happen to be one of those people — 

 perhaps because I get so little of it myself — who think that amuse- 

 ment is an exceedingly good thing ; and I am strongly disposed to 

 think the beneficial effects of such amusements as do no harm to a 

 man himself, nor in any way rob his neighbour — especially such as 

 are found in microscopical studies, heightened by the sympathy of 

 those who are associated for the purpose — are very great, and that 

 they are much to be cherished as an important part of the good of 

 human life. So that if it happened that no member pursued the 

 subject for a higher purpose than the gratification of his taste for 



