MiVicJiestcr Meuioirs, Vol. Hi. {igoj). 



INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 



By tlic President 



Professor H. B. DixoN, M.A., F.R.S. 



October ist^ ^907. 



Two years ago our late President made an innovation 

 which has caused me some anxious moments of reflection. 

 By my action, perhaps, it would be decided whether it 

 shall be the custom for cur Society to demand of each 

 new president an address, or whether we shall continue 

 (as heretofore) unaddressed,and look on the late inaugura- 

 tion as something extraordinary and not to be repeated ; 

 regard it, in fact, as a somewhat dangerous overflow of 

 mental activity — a sort of 'Spate' in the Highlands of 

 literature and learning which form the happy hunting 

 ground of my distinguished predecessor. But with the 

 example of so many learned societies before me, and the 

 happy precedent afforded by Sir W. Bailey, I thought, 

 however inadequate my own share might be, that it would 

 be to the advantage of our Society, if future Presidents 

 gave us the benefit of their thoughts and experience. 



At the annual meetings of the British Association, it 

 was long the custom for the President to attempt a survey 

 of the whole domain covered by the advance of science 

 during the year. As one well-known President put it — 

 " he took advantage of the elevation of his position . . . 

 and casting his eyes round the horizon of the scientific 

 world, reported to them what could be seen from his 

 watch-tower." But this custom has fallen into disuse. 

 Extreme specialisation in each province of science made 

 it impossible that even the British Association could 

 secure a succession of presidents ready to report to 



October 2gt/i, igoy. 



