34 PB0CEEUINQ8 OF THE 



warping or receiii injury to the cabinets likely to i)rove harmful 

 to the specimens of which the Linuean Society is the guardian. 



The books are ke])t in the same condition as when received, 

 except that lettering-pieces have had to be affixed to many volumes, 

 whose dusky backs made it impossible to discover their titles. 



The MS. are in course of gradual binding, and a selection will 

 be on view at the President and Officers' Conversazione, and de- 

 scribed in the special Catalogue. 



Annivebsaey Addeess of the Peesident. 



The President then proceeded to deliver his Annual Address, 

 as follows : — 



OuE first thoughts, in looking over the closed record of another 

 year, are sad and sorrowful from the many entries of departed 

 friends and fellow- workers. In no previous year have we had to 

 mourn the loss of so many and so illustrious a company. The 

 life-long friend, the wise and trusty counsellor, the devoted 

 worker, the ardent beginner, and the venerated father have alike 

 received the summons and have been taken from us. Need I 

 record the names of Asa (xray and A.ntou do Bary, of Alexander 

 Dickson and J. T. Boswell, of Robei't Caspary and J. E. Plauchou, 

 of Spencer Baird and Julius von liaast, of John iNlillar and our 

 aged Associate John Smith : and as we muster here, we have still 

 ringing in our ears the sad news c-f the sudden termination of a 

 young and promising life. William Threlfall was but a few 

 months ago enrolled as a Fellow of our Society : thereafter he 

 set out for the East to explore the flora of some districts in the 

 Ottoman Empire in Asia. Your Council had taken steps to help 

 him in his work, and we were all looking forward to important 

 results from his travels when the news startles and saddens us, 

 that by a distressing accident he has lost his life. 



Notwithstanding the empty places of so many loved and 

 honoured workers, the great work, for the furtlierance of which 

 our Society exists, is still being carried on — and now more actively 

 than ever. Young, able, and earnest men are stepping to the 

 front. I can set before them no better encouragement than the 

 examples of the men we mourn. If in honest and persevering 

 labours they follow in their footsteps, they will secure similar 

 victories and obtain a like measure of the gratitude and esteem 

 of their fellow-workers in science. 



But to-day we have to look over a longer period than the year 

 that has just passed. 



