THE JOURNAL 



llill lim OF ilDEil HUM, 



VOL. II. 



CINCINNATI, JULY, 1879. 



No. 2. 



ANNUAL ADDRESS OF V. T. CHAMBERS, ESQ., 



PRESIDENT CINCINNATI SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



Gentlemen : It has become a custom with scientific societies to re- 

 quire of their presidents, on retiring from office, an address upon some 

 appropriate subject. When the president is a man of science, and 

 competent to the fulfillment of the task, the custom is a good one ; 

 otherwise it is, perhaps, more honored in the breach than the observ- 

 ance. Not claiming for myself any so pretentious title as that of scien- 

 tist, and belonging to that class alread}^ numerous, and becoming- 

 each 3-ear more numerous, who find in scientific pursuits a profitable 

 and agreeable occupation for such portion of their time as can be 

 spared from business avocations, I must beg your indulgence if I 

 shall not be able to afford you either that amount of instruction or 

 interest which 3'ou might derive from an address by one more compe- 

 tent than I am to meet the requirements of m}' present position; and 

 I must also remind you that the position was not sought by me, and 

 therefore if I shall fail to interest you, you will have no one to blame 

 but 3^ourselves who have devolved this dut}^ upon me. 



