PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, 7 



a long time past some of our best microscopical work has been 

 achieved by men who hold aloof from our Societies on the ground 

 that the Societies are too learned or too respectable. I believe 

 that this Society can offer great advantages to an influx of students 

 belonging to our Technical Schools, if its objects are better known. 

 A question would probably arise as to a lower rate of subscription, 

 and a membership with or without an obligation to subscribe to 

 the Journal, but this part of the subject could be discussed and a 

 scheme evolved by the enterprise of our Honorary Secretary. My 

 one aim is to assist workers in microscopical studies. I have no 

 desire to reduce the intellectual and scientific status of this Society, 

 and to enrol anybody and everybody who chose to apply for 

 admission. I cannot, however, close my eyes to the fact that 

 students from our elementary schools are passing in large numbers 

 to the science classes which have been formed, and their studies 

 will create a demand for such a Society as our own. 



In reference to our prospects, I am anxious that our heartiest 

 support should be given to our Honorary Secretary in the enterprise 

 he shows in connection with the Postal Microscopical Journal. It 

 must be a very heavy tax on his time and resources. If we com- 

 pare the recent volumes with those of earlier date, the growing 

 excellence of the Journal is apparent to every one of us. Its 

 high-class papers and elaborate illustrations deserve the support of 

 all of us. If it were possible for him to impart only a small por- 

 tion of his energy into the minds of his readers we should very 

 soon obtain an extended list of subscribers. 



I deeply regret that your President is one wholly unable to 

 enrich you with the researches of an ardent student of Micro- 

 scopical Science. He is far too respectful to his fellow members 

 to indulge in a resume of Microscopical researches, up to date, 

 culled from the several Journals which are at their own command. 

 He has been contented to review the past, study the present, and 

 to offer a few words of encouragement and stimulus, so that the 

 future of this Society may be prosperous and progressive. 



