X PKOCEEDINGS OF THE 



those who Lave been tlieir recipients, the consciousness on his own 

 part of having deserved that return, and the happiness which a 

 reciprocity of afiection and esteem must always bring to a warm 

 and generous heart. Mr. Bennett is now seeking in a change of 

 au" and scene the restoration of his health, so precious to us all ; 

 and your earnest wishes and aspirations will go mth mine, that 

 he may be soon restored to the society of his friends, to whom the 

 fine qualities equally of his mind and heart have rendered him so 

 deservedly dear. Mr. Busk, who, to the great advantage of the 

 Society, has of late acted as the Zoological Secretary, under the 

 title (soon to be abrogated) of Under-secretary, will this day be sub- 

 mitted to you for election as Secretary in Mr. Bennett's place ; and 

 to the manner in which this removal has been proposed by the 

 Council to be supplied — and which proposition you will presently 

 be asked to confirm — I shall now briefly allude. 



When Mr. Bennett foimd that his health was not likely to be 

 speedily so far restored as to enable him to continue those services 

 which the Society has for so long a time enjoyed, he considered it 

 his duty to intimate his intention, at whatever sacrifice of feeling 

 on his part, to resign his ofiice of Secretary. It was represented 

 to him that there was every reason to hope that he might before 

 very long be enabled to resume his duties to some extent, and that 

 in any case his name might be retained until the necessity for his 

 retiring should become more certain, for we should aU have rejoiced 

 in aflording him every assistance in our power, and his excellent 

 colleague was ready to take as much of the extra duty as might be 

 required ; Mr. Bennett, however, felt that it would be painful to 

 hold merely a nominal office without performing its functions, and 

 his resignation was, perforce, accepted by the Council. They have 

 now selected for nomination, to fill the vacancy which will be occa- 

 sioned by Mr. Busk's appointmeut as Secretary in Mr. Bennett's 

 place, a gentleman who I feel confident will be entirely acceptable 

 to the Society. Mr. CmTey is well known to us as a constant at- 

 tendant upon our meetings, a valued contributor to oiu* Transac- 

 tions, an efficient member of the Council, and as one who, for his 

 position, his education, his acquirements, and the amiable qualities 

 of his heart, is admirably adapted to succeed one whose possession, 

 in so high a degree, of aU these qualifications would naturally ren- 

 der us fastidious in the choice of a successor. 



In connexion with this subject I have to offer a few further 

 observations. The change wliich it was thought desirable some 

 time since to make in the office of "Under-secretary" by the 



