681 



WEDNESDAY, 26th NOVExMBER, 1890. 



Di". James C. Cox, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The Chairman addressed the Meeting as follows : — " At the last 

 Meeting of the Society only one month ago our esteemed Pre- 

 sident, Professor William John Stephens, M. A., F.G.S., was present 

 with us and presided over our deliberations with his accustomed 

 dignity and ability, and without any serious premonition of the 

 mournful event which all too soon was to overtake us. As Senior 

 Vice-President it now becomes my sorrowful duty to announce to 

 you formally his decease on Satui'day last, 22nd inst., after a short 

 illness ; and in making this announcement I would at the same time 

 ask to be permitted to give expression to my own sincere personal 

 regret. Professor Stephens was a Member of Council during 

 1875 and 1876, President in 1877 and 1878, Vice-President in 

 1879 and 1880; Co-Honorary Secretary in 1881-84, and again 

 President from 1885 until the close of his life a few days since. 

 Thus by his long official connection with the Society dating from 

 its very foundation, his regular attendance at our Meetings, and 

 the zeal and ability displayed in the discharge of his various 

 official duties, apart from his personal qualities and his contribu- 

 tions as a working member, our deceased President has earned our 

 wai'mest gratitude and approval. As resolutions suitable to the 

 occasion will be brought forward for your consideration, and in 

 view of the Annual Meeting, now not far off, at which it is 

 customary to deal more in detail with events which so directly 

 concern the welfare of the Society, I need not longer occupy your 

 attention on the present occasion." 



