42 PEOCEEDINOS OF THE 



honour by all antl are happily still doing good service for 

 science. 



In his preliminary discourse on the Study of Natural History, 

 published in 1834^, Mr. Swainson speaks somewhat plainly of the 

 scientific societies of London, exposing what he deems their defects 

 and freely suggesting improvements. Tliroughout he speaks in 

 approviug terms of our Society, and his only suggestion in respect 

 to us he tlius expresses : — " If there is anything to be regretted 

 in the constitution of the Linnean Society, it is the exclusion of 

 oral discussions." 



It is difficult for those of us who are acquainted with the Society 

 only during the past thirty years, to realize that in the earlier 

 days it was the custom of the Fellows to sit in solemn silence 

 and listen to the papers, whether dull or interesting, without the 

 opportuuity of hazarding a single remark upon the subject of 

 tliem. The proposal to permit conversational discussions on the 

 communications was met by strong opposition from some of the 

 most distinguished members of the Society, wlio prophesied that 

 the new plan would convert the meeting-room into an arena for 

 ghidiatorial combats of rival intellects, and lead to the ruin of 

 the Society. Happily the conciliatory management of Prof. Bell, 

 the then President, secured the carrying out of the experiment 

 W'ith results that have ever since given a living interest to our 

 meetings. The discussions, carried on in good temper and kindly 

 feeling, liave often elicited fresh information, sometimes corrected 

 mistakes, and always developed friendly relations between the 

 Fellows of the Society. 



To another innovation introduced by Prof. Bell I cannot give 

 so hearty an approbation. In an evil hour he began the unhappy 

 practice of delivering an address from the Chair at the Anuiver- 

 sary Meeting, from which none of his successors have been able 

 to liberate thenisielves. 



As no account of the Society's history would be complete 

 without some notice of its financial progression during the 

 century, the senior Secretary has compiled the following brief 

 statement. 



To show the growth o£ the Society, the receipts have been 

 tabulated in decades of years, with the amount expended on 

 publications aud the library. A more detailed statement is 

 hardly practicable, for in addition to the large amount of time 

 required to investigate every payment, the accounts of the 

 Society have not been kept on a strictly uniform plan. The 

 details are not intelligible at the present time, though no doubt 

 perfectly so when presented to the Fellows, wiiile the totals at 

 the close of each financial year are now wanting in clearness. 

 Thus, to take one instance, for fifty-eight years, from 1824 to 

 1881, the heading " Binding and Stationery " was used without 



