L30 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 



Now this is as precise and full a disclaimer as can be framed, but 

 Mr. Conrady says that it does not mean what it appears to say. ELequoto a 

 the context to show thai Professor Abbe really intended something 

 else to be understood. Whether this be so or not I decline to con- 

 jecture. 1 never have undertaken to explain, and do not propose under- 

 taking to explain, what Professor Abbe may have meant. At least the 

 language which he there employs makes it proper to await some further 

 utterance on his part before attributing to him any precise views 

 upon the subject covered by his original statement. For that reason 

 I have always been careful when criticising expositions of the Abbe 

 theory put forward by other writers to abstain from attributing the 

 views thus brought into discussion to Professor Abbe himself, and it is 

 for thus distinguishing between the master and the disciple that I am 

 blamed. Xow I can quite understand that a distinction of that sort 

 may be distasteful to those whom it affects. I do not forget the old 

 adage that comparisons are odious, and I can imagine that on some 

 such ground as that, possibly on grounds that do not occur to my mind, 

 complaint might be made of my disputing the authenticity of various 

 Abbe theories which I have from time to time criticised. But to say 

 that it is disingenuous must be a blunder : the point is badly taken. 



The Chairman said that feeling upon this subject seemed to be getting 

 very acute, but whatever individual opinion might be held, there was no 

 doubt they were all much indebted to Mr. Gordon for his very interest- 

 ing paper. 



The Chairman reminded the Fellows present that their Annual 

 Meeting would be held on January 18, when they would be asked to 

 elect Officers and Council for the ensuing year; and the list of those 

 proposed by the Council was read by the Secretary. 



The Fellows were then asked to elect one of their number to act as 

 Auditor of the Society's accounts for the year in conjunction with the 

 Auditor appointed by the Council. 



Mr. C. L. Curties Avas then proposed, seconded, and unanimously 

 elected Auditor on behalf of the Fellows of the Society. 



The following Instruments, Objects, etc., were exhibited : — 

 Mr. A. E. Conrady : — Experimental proof of phase-reversal in the 

 second spectrum from a grating of broad slits. 



Mr, Julius Rheinberg : — Photographs taken with the Abbe Demon- 

 stration Microscope, illustrating the influence on the images of gratings 

 of phase difference amongst their spectra, in accordance with the results 

 of Mr. A. E. Conrady. 



