XXU PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



ceedings, especially as regards our country Fellows, whose con- 

 nexion with the Society is mainly kept up by this means. 



The present state of our Finances, with so considerable a balance 

 in our hands, for which I refer you with great pleasure to the 

 Auditors' Beport, will I trust enable your Council to turn their 

 attention to the gradual increase of the Library, which is very 

 deficient in some departments of Natural History literature. The 

 proximity and common use of the Library of the Boyal Society, 

 which contains a considerable number of the more expensive works 

 on local Natural History, such as several of the beautifully illus- 

 trated French Voyages and others, will assist in enabling us to 

 direct our means towards the acquisition of less expensive but 

 equally useful works, and to the completion of some important 

 serial publications. At the same time it must be remembered 

 that this can only be done at present to a very limited extent, as 

 the illustrations of some of the most valuable of the papers which 

 have been lately read will necessarily be very expensive. 



Amongst those who have been recently removed from us by 

 death, is our old and respected friend Eichard Horsman Solly, 

 w^ho for more than thirty years was one of the most constant 

 attendants at our meetings, and a liberal contributor to any pecu- 

 niary exigency whenever an appeal was made to him ; and he has 

 shown a lasting interest in the welfare of the Society to which he 

 was so long and so warmly attached, by a legacy of 56IOO. 



I cannot conclude this brief allusion to the most prominent cir- 

 cumstances or events of the past year, without calling particular 

 attention to the accession to our library of the whole of the 

 scientific correspondence of our founder, presented to us, since the 

 last anniversary, by his honoured widow. This important gift is not 

 more acceptable on account of its intrinsic value, great as that is, 

 than as a graceful evidence of attachment and respect from one, 

 who, during the life of her revered husband, was ever associated 

 with him in the deep interest he took in Natural Science and in 

 the welfare of our Society in particular ; and who now, at a very 

 advanced age, and as full of energy as of years, has shown, by this 

 munificent act, that she still recurs mth fond recollection to the 

 favourite object of her husband's scientific life, and retains, even 

 now, a vivid interest in our pursuits, and a warm and earnest wish 

 for our prosperity. 



There are some other additions to our rooms by gift which I 

 cannot pass over without remark. The widow of one of our 

 liighly valued members, the late Dr. Percira, has kindly presented 



