306 THE president's address. 



head in towering and awful grandeur above the platform on which 

 they were constrained to take their stand, and they were conse- 

 quently in many cases compelled to work on alone, deprived of that 

 enjoyment which springs from the sympathy of united tastes and 

 united labour ; but the want was no sooner recognised than it was 

 removed. Our Club was instituted in 1865, and since that time 

 over 1,500 members have been elected into it, of which number 

 about 600 have always remained on our lists. The object for which 

 it was instituted bears evidence of a knowledge on the part of our 

 founders of the many difficulties experienced by the tyro in micro- 

 scopical work. To quote again from the original prospectus, it was 

 with a view that its members " might meet at stated periods to 

 hold cheerful converse with each other, exhibit and exchange speci- 

 mens, read papers on topics of interest, discuss doubtful points, com- 

 pare notes of progress, and gossip over those special subjects in 

 which they are more or less interested." Now, what scheme could 

 have been more practical or more unpretending ? It embraces all 

 that the young microscopist can require. Here are none of the high- 

 flown technicalities of overgrown science on the platform of some 

 learned society, such mental pabulum might not be assimilated by 

 the young beginner ; but instead we have the cheerful converse, one 

 with the other, upon subjects of mutual interest for mutual help and 

 encouragement ; and it needs but a brief glance over the records of 

 the attendance at these meetings to show, by the high average num- 

 ber who meet on these occasions, hoAV much they are appreciated, 

 because it is at these meetings that those who, having a taste for 

 microscopical pursuits, but knowing nothing, or next to nothing, of 

 the best methods of investigation, get instructed in them, not in the 

 form of set lectures or lessons, but by seeing the resmts and asking 

 information relative to the methods adopted to produce them. And 

 here it is that that warm brotherly feeling and sympathy, so char- 

 acteristic of those who have a common taste and pursuit, becomes 

 evident ; and the right hand of fellowship is held out alike to old 

 and young, rich or poor — for the band which binds together the 

 workers in our Club is as strong as the bands of a masonic brother- 

 hood, and as true and as loving ; and because it is so (and all can 

 prove it for themselves who join our ranks) that we can rejoice in 

 its foundation as one means of obtaining that instruction in the use 

 of our favourite instrument which cannot be found in books, however 

 carefully written or elaborately illustrated. 



