10 



From tliis enumeration, it appears that the Session, 

 now at its close, is second to no one preceding it, in 

 the importance and variety of the subjects which have 

 been brought before the Society at its Ordinary Meet- 

 ings; and it is very gratifying to observe the large 

 proportion of Papers furnished by new Members, so 

 as to compensate for the temporary abstraction of pro- 

 fessional talent, which has been occasioned by the 

 recent establishment of a Medical School in this town, 

 an event in itself the subject of much satisfaction, and 

 the source of many pleasing anticipations to the pro- 

 moters of philosophical inquiry. The discussions also 

 have, in many instances, been highly creditable; and 

 on these points the Society has little to regret, save the 

 almost total absence of Experimental Papers, which are 

 not indeed so generally interesting as some others, but 

 are of great importance, both for their intrinsic value, 

 and for habituating the observer to the processes of 

 scientific investigation. 



It is, therefore, not without a confident expecta- 

 tion that this Institution will continue steadily to assist 

 in the cultivation of science, and to exert its genial 

 and softening influences on the general condition of 

 society, that tlie Council cheerfully resign the admi- 

 nistration of your affairs to those who will this day be 

 elected their successors. And as a parting subject of 

 congratulation, they would call your attention to the 

 British Association for the advancement of Science, a 

 Society which was formed shortly before the com- 

 mencement of the Session, under the most favourable 

 auspices, and which, from the facilities afforded by its 



