44 I'HOCKKUINOS OF TlIK 



light undertaking. Mr. Darwin's death has drawn forth one 

 harmonious ehorus of admiration and regret. He will rank witli 

 Bacon and 8hakeapeare, Newton and Young, among the very 

 greatest men wliom our country has ever produced. Others 

 have eloquently and truly dwelt on the patience and accuracy of 

 his ohservations, on the profound philosophy of his works. I 

 will here only say one vrord as to the additional interest which 

 he has given to Biology, and the new source of happiness with 

 wliich he has enriched our lives. 



For my own part I have also to mourn one of the oldest, tlie 

 kindest, the best of friends. It has been truly said that a de- 

 scription of Mr. Darwin which to those who had the privilege of 

 his friendship would seem quite inadequate, to any one else 

 might appear over enthusiastic, even extravagant. 



In conclusion. Gentlemen, I must gratefully acknowledge the 

 valuable assistance I have received from the Council, and espe- 

 cially from the Officers ; and cordially thank the Fellows of the 

 Society for their kind support during the past year. 



Report on the Progress of Botany during the Year April 1881 to 

 April 1882. Prepared for the Linnean Anniversary. 



If the past twelvemonth does not present any very strikingly 

 phenomenal publications, it is probably quite up to the average 

 of other years, whether we regard it as of facts accomplished or 

 promised. 



Heer Bohneusieg has continued his handy ' Repertorium ' of 

 the various articles in different journals, the volume published 

 being for 1877 ; the still more important work of Dr. Just, 

 the ' Botanischer Jahresbericht,' has been continued with un- 

 abated vigour. It is to be regretted that both works should lag 

 so far behind date ; but that is in a large measure compensated 

 for by Dr. Uhhvorm's ' Botanisches Centralblatt,' intended to 

 give speedy intelligence of any thing new. A bibliography of 

 the species of Diatomacese has been begun by Mr. F. Habershaw ; 

 and Dr. von Herder, the Librarian of the Imperial Botanic 

 Garden at St. Petersburg, has completed his list of books bear- 

 ing upon Eussian botany. With Ledebour, Herder, and Traut- 

 vetter's labours, probably no country has had its botanical lite- 

 rature so completely focussed as Russia. 



Some modifications of the received arrangement of plants 

 have been severally proposed by Prof. Caruel, in Italy, and Prof, 

 von Borbas, the latter confining his attention to Vascular Crypto- 

 gams. Concerning these I need not detain you. 



Turning to Palteobotany, I must call attention to tlie valuable 

 introduction to the regular study of fossil plants which is being 



