2' PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



this Society, who are scattered throughout the United Kingdom. 

 You will pardon me, then, if any of my remarks may appear not 

 altogether suited to the present assemblage. 



I wish to speak about our Society itself, — its special character ; 

 the advantages which seem peculiarly to belong to it, and how to 

 improve these ; its disadvantages, drawbacks, and hindrances, 

 which are not altogether inseparable from its constitution ; and how 

 far they may be corrected ; in a word, I want to consider how best 

 to carry on the Postal Microscopical Society ; how to make the 

 most of it ; how to advance and improve it ; how to make it a 

 useful and a pleasant Society to belong to. 



But before entering upon the special subject which I have 

 chosen for this address, let me express the sorrow of myself and 

 of the Postal Microscopical Society, at the removal by death from 

 amongst us of Dr. Brown, of Ealing, a late President of this 

 Society, and one of its earliest and most distinguished members ; 

 a man ardent in the study of microscopy, very sincere and earnest 

 in his work for the Society, whose notes in our note-books were 

 frequent, and always instructive, and whose slides were most 

 interesting ; his loss will be greatly felt, and his place not easily 

 supplied. 



Now, since the object and aim of the Postal Microscopical 

 Society is simply to promote Scientific knowledge, and research in 

 the world of minute objects, every honest worker, then, ought to 

 find a welcome amongst us. It surely should not check that wel- 

 come, or lessen our cordiality, that he has not mastered the mere 

 elements of his work ; we should be glad to reach forth to him a 

 helping hand ; was there not a time in the lives of each of us 

 when we too were beginners, when we had not learned even the 

 alphabet of our Science ? We must, therefore, on our part, act 

 towards him, just as we expect the beginner on his part to be 

 modest and diffident, and not mistake his crude ideas for 

 undoubted truths ; but to go on adding to his stores of knowledge, 

 making sure progress, and treading on firm ground, by using as 

 he may the observations and experience of his elders in the 

 science. But we must not forget that our main' desire is to enhst 

 in our ranks those to whom we can look for further help and 

 profit in our microscopical studies. And, then, let us all endeavour 



