320 Mamud. 



PROCEEDINGS 



OK Tin: 



FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD DEPARTMENTS. 



For a number of years subsequent to the organization 

 of the Institute, the several departments were accustomed 

 to hold regular meetings tor the transaction of their ap- 

 propriate business, during which period new correspond- 

 ing and resident members were added to the Institute 

 only by virtue of election to some one of these depart- 

 ments. More recently, while the organization of the depart- 

 ments has been preserved in accordance with the provisions 

 of the charter, the proceedings have been almost wholly 

 conducted by the Institute at large, and new members 

 have not generally been elected to or classified among the 

 various departments. It is hoped, however, that the 

 operation of the new by-law of the Institute relative to 

 " Glasses in the Several Departments " (see pp. 22, 23), will 

 tend to renew their efficiency, and to secure to the Insti- 

 tute all the advantages of thorough organization for the 

 promotion of its objects. 



