LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. XXIU 



US with a faithful bust of her excellent husband. A portrait 

 of our esteemed friend and Fellow, Mr. Ward, painted by Mr. 

 Knight the E-oyal Academician, and acknowledged to be an ad- 

 mirable likeness as well as an interesting and beautiful picture, 

 has been presented by a number of gentlemen, not confined to 

 Fellows of this Society, by whose subscription, this pleasing testi- 

 mony to Mr. Ward's scientific and social claims to our esteem and 

 gratitude has been produced. And lastly, we have received within 

 the last few days an interesting bust of the great Linn-^jus, a copy 

 of the original in the Hall of the Academy of Sciences of Stock- 

 holm ; this valuable addition to our memorials of the distinguished 

 men who have been more or less closely associated with the ob- 

 jects of the Society, was presented to us by Professor Anderson. 



We have now had twelve months' experience of our close local 

 association with the Eoyal Society, and have been able to test 

 the result of our meeting on the same evening with them. With 

 regard to the first, I think I may safely say that our proximity 

 has been the source of great advantage to us, and I am sure that 

 it has tended to the increase of kindly feeling and good fellowship 

 between the two bodies. On more than one occasion this has 

 been evident, when a union of action was necessary to carry out 

 some important object ; and it is my pleasant duty to say that 

 nothing can exceed the kind consideration and ready cooperation 

 which have characterized the conduct of the authorities of that 

 respected body. Our evening association with them after the 

 business of the two Societies has been concluded, has also had the 

 efiect of bringing us into close and friendly relation, and has never 

 materially interfered with our scientific arrangements. 



I have now, I believe. Gentlemen, glanced at the principal cir- 

 cumstances which demand allusion from me. Upon the whole, our 

 retrospect affords us ground for great thankfulness and congratu- 

 lation. Our position is in almost every respect greatly improved. 

 Our finances are not only now in a prosperous state, but our means 

 will be still further increased, by the cessation of rent for the 

 house in Soho Square at the approaching autumnal quarter. Our 

 numbers are gradually being augmented by the addition of active 

 and zealous and intelligent naturalists. Our publications are in- 

 creasing in importance, and are everywhere more and more appre- 

 ciated and valued. 



That this state of progress may continue, nothing now is need- 

 ful but a perseverance in the same course of energy and vigour, 

 combined with good feeling and kindly brotherhood, which, I 

 thank God, has long been characteristic of our Society. 



