324 president's address. 



out a word or two concerning the specialities of the Club, or those 

 features which particularly characterised it when it came into 

 existence, but which are now happily emulated by others. One of 

 these is the very moderate rate of annual subscription, which brings 

 tie advantages of the Club within the reach of all moderately 

 educated persons. When you consider that a magnificent room is 

 ready for your meetings twice in the month, well lighted and admi- 

 rably situated, that you receive almost quarterly a valuable journal 

 gratuitously, that a large collection of microscopic objects is at your 

 disposal, that you have already a very respectable library, that occa- 

 sionally you have a Soiree (to which you can invite a friend) un- 

 surpassed for interest and utility by that of any other society, even 

 with a subscription of four times the amount — I think you will 

 agree with me that one feature of the Club is cheapness. 



Another point of which I would remind you is, that a high scien- 

 tific standard is not demanded for the papers and communications 

 which are read from time to time at our meetings. I wish to im- 

 press upon the members generally that we do not absolutely demand 

 novelties and new discoveries in our papers, so much as an exami- 

 nation and verification of old facts, seen with new eyes, and illus- 

 trated by new methods. The plainer, simpler, and less elabora e 

 the papers are, the better do they serve the purpose of the Club. 

 The majority of our members are, in every respect, qualified to 

 communicate to us their views in some section of the very wide 

 range of subjects which come under our cognizance, if they would 

 but take courage to do so, and give us the benefit of their experience. 

 I would therefore urge that short and conversational papers are 

 another feature of the Club which I earnestly hope that a larger 

 number of members will recognise. The informal and social cha- 

 racter of the concluding half-hour of our monthly meetings, and the 

 whole of our "gossip" nights, is one which needs only to be 

 mentioned, since it is a feature highly appreciated, and one which 

 continues to be as prominent and vigorous as ever. 



The value of a scientific library is so great that arguments are 

 unnecessary to prove that this is an important adjunct to the Club. 

 Although it is not so extensive as we hope it may become, it is 

 already an excellent feature, and one which admits of almost unlimited 

 improvement. Growing demands upon the library now in existence 

 will afford to the committee the best evidence that it is appreciated, 

 and give them the strongest inducements for its augmentation. 



