50 OUR ANNUAL MEETING. 



The Secretary rose, and said he had a special duty to per- 

 form that evening. The members were aware that the late 

 President (who, he was sure, they were all very sorry not to see 

 with them that evening, but who was unavoidably absent), a short 

 time ago, interested himself very much on his behalf, the result 

 being that Dr. Coombs had recently sent him a very hand- 

 some cheque as a testimonial of the goodwill of the members 

 towards him. It, therefore, became him that he should say 

 something on the subject, and he did not think he could put the 

 matter better than he did in his letter of thanks to the President, 

 'which he would now read. 



Mr. President and members of the Postal Microscopical 

 Society : — 



I feel that there is a duty devolving upon myself to perform, — 

 a very pleasant and at the same time a very difficult one. The 

 pleasant duty that I refer to, is to thank the many members of the 

 Society most heartily and sincerely, who helped to provide the 

 very handsome testimonial that was so kindly sent me a short time 

 ago by Dr. Coombs, the late President. The difficulty of the 

 task before me is to express in suitable terms, my appreciation of 

 the same. That, however, I do very heartily esteem your kind- 

 ness, I trust you all believe. 



It is not for me to tell you how much interest I have always 

 felt, and trust I shall always continue to feel, in the success of our 

 Society, or of the Journal,, which I look upon as an offshoot of it. 

 That the Journal has added very considerably to my labours, you 

 will, I am sure, all readily understand. If only I could see a very 

 small amount of profit attached to this extra labour, I should be 

 thoroughly satisfied. I hope, however, that the Journal is making 

 to itself a name, and that very shortly its sale will very rapidly 

 increase, and as one of the surest ways of accompHshing this end, 

 I trust each member of the Society will do all he can to make it 

 known. 



It is with much regret that I am again compelled to show an 

 adverse balance sheet. In a Society like ours, when the members 

 are scattered throughout the length and breadth of Great Britain 

 and Ireland, and when but few are personally known to each other, 

 it is difficult, although I do sometimes send a "dunning" letter, to 

 get all arrears paid up. If there were no arrears, the adverse 

 balance of last year would be nearly cleared off 



The roll of members contains a larger number than last year, 

 and I am looking forward to much success, both in the Society, 

 and with the Journal in the future. 



Again thanking you, Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen, 



