20 Annual Address. [Jan. & Feb. 



are well deserving of permaneut record, will avail themselves of the 

 facility afforded to them. Such notes, instructive in themselves, will 

 often suggest enquiry, which will add to the store of information on the 

 subjects dealt with. These minor points for discussion will often sug- 

 gest themselves to students in language and literature, in anthropology 

 and in archaeology. 



In other branches of science more and more is being done in India 

 under the auspices of the Government or by private individuals, and 

 the Society affords, through the medium of its Journal, a ready means 

 of communicating to the world observations and results which interest 

 the student and the man of business. 



Speaking now generally, I would say that a Society which embraces 

 so wide a range of subjects as ours cannot fail to fiud at all times inter- 

 esting matter for discussion. New theories in science are constantly 

 presented to the world : some survive to an enduring acceptance ; some 

 pass away after a stormy life of controversy ; and some perish almost 

 at their birth ; but all afford matter for thought, speculation, and dis- 

 cussion. The vicissitudes of scientific ingenuity are humourously 

 alluded to in the following lines of Moore, which I am tempted to 

 quote to you : — 



" In science, too — how many a system, raised 

 Like Neva's icy domes, awhile hath blazed 

 With lights of fancy and with forms of pride, 

 Then, melting, mingled with the oblivious tide ! 

 Now earth usurps the centre of the sky, 

 Now Newton puts the paltry planet by ; 

 Noiv whims revive beneath Descartes' pen, 

 Which now, assailed by Locke's, expire again. 

 And when, perhaps, in pride of chemic powers, 

 We think the keys of Nature's Kingdom ours, 

 Some Davy's magic touch the dream unsettles 

 And turns at once our alkalis to metals." 



I trust, gentlemen, that the remarks which I have offered on our 

 past and future work have sufficed to make it clear that this Society 

 has still before it a life of robust vitality. I would express the hope 

 that our numbers may increase, and that we may count on additions to 

 our list of active members. The Annual Report indicates a steady 

 growth in our Members' list during the past five years, but the roll falls 

 short of the figures attained in some former years, and we may reason- 

 ably look forward to an accession of members. Many may be deterred 



