president's address. 321 



existence as the organ of the Royal Microscopical Society, and for 

 eight years the two journals have been continued contemporaneously. 

 It will be evident that such unbroken records will give us a most 

 interesting and complete history of the progress of microscopical 

 science from the very commencement of the existence of the 

 Microscopical Society. Their pages are full of valuable information, 

 and I strongly advise all our younger members to examine 

 and peruse them. Although the Natural History Society of Dublin 

 had turned its attention to microscopical subjects, and the Literary 

 and Philosophical Society of Manchester had not neglected them, 

 yet there was no society solely devoted to the use of the microscope, 

 except the Microscopical Society of London, down to the year 1865. 

 On the 14th of June in that year, eleven gentlemen held the preli- 

 minary meeting of the Quekett Club, and as the formation of the 

 Microscopical Society of London was one landmark in the history 

 of British microscopy, so the establishment of the Quekett Club 

 was another not less important, but different in its character and 

 results. 



It is interesting to look back from our present standpoint to 

 some of the intimations which are offered in the first report of our 

 Club. " Field excursions have not been forgotten," this report 

 says ; " two experiments have been made under the superintendence 

 of Mr. M. C. Cooke (Vice-President) and Mr. W. W. Reeves. 

 The first excursion was to Hampstead, when about twenty members 

 and their friends attended, and an excellent collection of objects 

 was made." This was the first Quekett excursion. Afterwards 

 we read that the second excursion was to Darenth Wood and North- 

 fleet Marshes, when about the same number attended. It is not 

 stated that afterwards a cold collation was provided, which was the 

 origin of the excursion dinner. 



Of the first Soiree, on the 4th of January, 1867, it is reported 

 that " Unfortunately a frost of almost unparalleled severity pre- 

 vailed, which rendered locomotion of all kinds nearly impractical tie." 



I do not know who read the first paper to the Club, but presume 

 it was that first mentioned in the first annual report, on " Work 

 for the Microscope," by Dr. M. C. Cooke. 



Another important event was the publication of the first number of 

 our Journal, in January, 1868. 



And now, gentlemen, having reminded you of a few of the 

 memorable events of the past with respect to the dissemination of 



