2 PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



I think we may fairly congratulate ourselves upon the marked 

 improvement in the character of our boxes resulting from the 

 alteration of the Rules, whereby each member is called upon to 

 contribute from six to twelve slides simultaneously, together with 

 accompanying notes, for instead of a heterogeneous collection of 

 unconnected slides as heretofore, we have now, for the most part, 

 connected series bearing upon one and the same subject, which 

 thus receives a much fuller elucidation than was otherwise possible, 

 and is more calculated to elicit notes of greater value. As regards 

 these, however, there still seems to be much to be desired, for 

 while according a full meed of praise to the excellent notes and 

 admirable drawings that accompany a number of the boxes, there 

 are frequently others with which they are of a very meagre and 

 insufficient character, or sometimes entirely omitted, such boxes 

 making the round of the various circuits without either giving or 

 acquiring much information that is of any value — for the three 

 evenings allowed to each member for the examination of the 

 slides and the addition of notes must necessarily be very insuffi- 

 cient, where members like myself have their time usually fully 

 occupied. It may, then, be worth while to consider whether this 

 state of things may not be in some measure obviated. 



Having had occasion to visit Bath (the headquarters of our 

 Society) at the commencement of the present year, I took the 

 opportunity to suggest to our excellent Secretary what appeared to 

 me as likely to lead to a considerable improvement in this respect, 

 viz., the formation of what may be called " Correspondence 

 Circles " amongst our various members, whereby such as are 

 working at the same or allied subjects should be brought into 

 communication with each other, irrespective of the ordinary circu- 

 lation of slides as at present existing. The work of each member 

 should be submitted to the other members of their special circle 

 for comment and friendly criticism, and by judicious questions 

 and replies a much larger amount of valuable information would 

 be elicited than seems to be at present practicable. 



The result of these various discussions would go to furnish the 

 Note-books of the Society generally, such portions as might 

 appear desirable eventually finding for themselves a shrine in the 

 pages of the Journal. 



