THE JOURNAL 



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INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. 



Dr. T. Spencer Cobbold, F.R.S., &c. 



(Delivered Sej?tember 26th, 1879.) 



Gentlemen, — When I recently arrived home, at the close of a 

 two months' tour in Brittany, the first periodical that I opened was 

 the " Athenseum " for August 2nd, containing a report of the anni- 

 Yersary meeting of this Club ; and after reading the brief summary 

 of your retiring President's address, I naturally felt that it was one 

 of my first duties to consider how I could best place myself at your 

 service. It occurred to me that a few unpretending remarks, 

 designed to serve as a general introduction to the scientific business 

 of cur session, would not be unsuitable to the occasion. Your 

 honorary secretary has, indeed, informed me that no such formality 

 as an opening lecture is customary ; but, since the delivery of an 

 altogether informal and very brief address is not expressly forbidden, 

 I can only hope that the few remarks now offered will not in any way 

 run contrary either to the wishes or to the sentiments of the Club. 



At the outset, I need scarcely say that, but for that legitimate 

 species of freemasonry which unites, or ought to unite, in bonds of 

 more or less friendliness all workers in science, I might have felt 

 somewhat timid at the thought of occupying a chair held by such a 

 savant as my predecessor. In this matter, may I not add, once for 

 all, and with your approval, that it was a gracious act on the part 

 of one so occupied as Professor Huxley is known to be with the 

 highest administrative functions of science in this country, to give 

 the Quekett Club the benefit of his advice and personal assistance. 

 Probably no living representative of science has ever shown more 

 JOUKN. Q. M. C, No. 12. B 



