The President's Address. 67 



to the consideration of the Council, who would comply with 

 such request as far as possible. 



From the Library let me direct your attention to our col- 

 lection of Microscopic Slides. The whole collection last 

 year amounted to 1414, I have always felt that the deve- 

 lopment of this part of our property should be one of our 

 primary objects, and that by exchange of duplicates, by pur- 

 chase, and by donations, the last mentioned particularly, we 

 should have a museum of objects worthy the dignity of the 

 Society. 



Perhaps there is no source of instruction more important 

 to a young inquirer than the oj^portunity of making himself 

 acquainted with properly-named specimens, and I think this 

 Society should aid, in all possible ways, the young observer. 

 It is a real pleasure to have to report that in the past year 

 the number of microscopic slides have been, nearly doubled. 



The first present I have to announce is that of Professor 

 Smith, of Kenyon College, U.S., who generously gave us 

 146 slides of Diatomaceae; and 83 other slides have been pre- 

 sented by W. Ladd, Professor Owen, T. Ross, Dr. Carpenter, 

 T. Ralfs, and Mr. Lobb. 



The next present is one of very high importance, being the 

 presentation of 1031 slides, a first instalment of the collection 

 of microscopical slides by Dr. Wallich. 



The circumstances under which this present has been 

 made, I think, should be stated. The first announcement of 

 Dr. Wallich's intention was in a letter dated October 23rd, 

 1867, addressed to W. H. Ince, Esq., in which he says : 



" I have a very large collection of microscopical slides and material, 

 pai-tly worked out by me ab-eady, and publislLed, but to a large extent 

 still requiring further examination. Such examination, if under- 

 taken by anyone, would, however, be greatly facilitated from the cir- 

 cumstance of nearly every remarkable specimen I have come across 

 having been carefully figured by me, and commented on in a series 

 of rough notes, written whilst sitting over the microscope. 



" I have no numerical list of my slides or drawings, biit know that 

 both amount to several thotisands. 



" I wish to present the whole to the Microscopical Society, feeling 

 sure that the Council for the time being will form the best medium 

 for determining the mode in which my material can be utilised. 



" There are one or two preliminary conditions which I should like 

 to see obsei-ved, should the Society think fit to accept my gift. _ But 

 these I would only impose in consultation with and under the willing 

 sanction of one or two friends on whose scientific judgment I could 

 rely, and in whose hands I should feel I was placing myself with 

 perfect safety. 



" I woidd name Mr. Glaisher and yourself and Dr. Carpenter as 

 my advisers in the matter. Of course I cannot say whether you and 

 they would undertake a task of the kind. Should it be so under- 



VOL. XVI. / 



