FYali *'- 1 ^ [March 15 



feeling than that of real exultation in beholding spread 

 before us in our Great Centennial Exhibition our pres- 

 ent world in all its strength and grand proportions and 

 its ability to realize for mankind what the ancient poet 

 wished for his people : 



"O fortttnatos nimium sua si bona norint." 



I must forbear from the further attempt to give the 

 marvels of what 1743 to 1880 reveal. Many of them 

 take date within my own memory, and I am truly 

 grateful that I have witnessed the revelation of such 

 gifts to men. 



We may be proud to feel that our Society has had a 

 full share in all this wonderful work. 



Among our members have been found the States- 

 men, Philosophers, Mechanicians, Manufacturers, Doc- 

 tors, Lawyers, Judges and Merchants who both here 

 and elsewhere have been the workers in the fields. 

 We have in our Transactions and Proceedings essayed 

 to give the world the benefit of their discoveries and 

 investigations, and in return they have reflected honor 

 on us. 



1 must now leave to my associates to tell us of the 

 march of modern science in all its forms, and to perfect 

 the imperfect sketch of it which I have given. 



The Society published the first volume of its Trans- 

 actions in 1773, and they now number twenty-one vol- 

 umes, with an additional one, ready for publication. 

 These volumes contain the more elaborate and impor- 

 tant subjects that have been communicated and are to a 

 considerable extent the important records of scientific 

 progress. 



The publication of the Proceedings was begun in 

 1838, and they have now reached 104 parts. 



