The President's Address, 105 



strongly, and tlie Cryptogamic Botany of this country was 

 powerfully represented in the persons of our conductors 

 and visitors, whilst French science did us the honour of 

 recognizing our meeting in the person of the eminent 

 botanist Professor Maxime Cornu, of Paris. So successful 

 was this meeting in the opinion of our leaders that we have 

 determined to make an annual institution of it, and I only 

 hope that for many years to come we may rally around the 

 same able conductors. 



The next point to which I propose to direct your atten- 

 tion is the existing state of affairs with reference to our 

 Library and Museum. These are still in a rudimentary 

 condition, but a fair start has been made, and many dona- 

 tions of books, periodicals, and specimens have been 

 received during the year. The prospects of seeing ourselves 

 established in a building of our own appear to be as yet 

 remote, but a timely offer of assistance has come from the 

 proprietors of the Art Classes, to whose kindness we are 

 indebted for the use of the apartments where we now hold 

 our meetings. Two rooms in this house have been allotted 

 to the Club for the Library and Museum, and the Council 

 has resolved that a certain portion of the funds arising 

 from life-subscriptions shall be expended for the legitimate 

 purpose of putting up such fittings as are considered sufh- 

 cient to meet our present requirements. We are thus in a 

 better position to make an appeal for donations, and I 

 cannot too strongly urge upon our members the necessity 

 for using every effort in their power to assist in the further- 

 ing of this object. If it is made generally known that we 

 have accommodation for books and specimens, I have no 

 doubt but that many contributions will be forthcoming ; 

 and when we are able to show that a good nucleus exists, 

 scientific writers will be encouraged to place copies of their 

 works on our shelves, where they know that good use will 

 be made of them, or to present us with collections which 

 they desire to keep local, and which they may feel assured 

 will be well looked after. 



The various books presented have been announced 

 at our meetings, and the thanks of the Club have been 



