15 
ORDINARY MEETINGS. 
Oct. 13.—The Presipenr—Opening Address. 
Noy. 17.—Mr. Prrrr Harrison—Names of Places. 
Dec. 1.—Mr. Epwin Jackson—Robert Burns. 
Dec. 22.—Open Night, for Debate on Anonymous and other Papers. 
Jan. 19.—Mr. Guo. E. Lowrn1an— Water. 
Feb. 9.—Rev. J. Cirirron Warp, F.G.S.—Ants. 
Mch. 8.—Rev. AtrrED Howson—Beauty in Art conducive to progress in 
Manufactures. 
Mch. 29.—Mr. J. F. CrostHwartE—Brief Memoir of Major-General Sir 
John George Woodford, K.C.B. and K.C.H. 
April 5.—Mr. Wm. Woop—Charles Dickens : A Sketch. 
The Committee, in presenting this report, are sorry to record 
a falling off in the number of members, to the extent of thirteen. 
In last session, there were one hundred and sixty-two; there are 
now only one hundred and forty-nine on the books. Of these 
one hundred and forty pay three shillings and sixpence; the 
remaining nine are under age, and pay two shillings and sixpence 
each. This decline in the numbers has been mainly caused by 
removals and deaths, or by fewer members joining the Society in 
the session just concluded than had previously done. There were 
twenty-two new names added in 1878-9, but only nineteen in the 
session for 1879 and 80. While we have reason to regret this, 
still we may congratulate the Society on the state of its funds, as 
will be seen from the Treasurer’s report, which shows a balance of 
fifteen pounds in our favour, and which is now carried forward to 
next year’s credit. The particulars will be presented to you in the 
Treasurer’s balance sheet. There have been eight lectures during 
the session, on a variety of subjects, including history, physiology, 
poetry, fine arts, and personal travel, and they have been fairly 
well attended by the members, but non-members have not come to 
the lectures so numerously as before, perhaps because the price of 
admission has been raised to threepence, as against one penny of 
previous sessions. The amount taken from non-members for 
attendance at lectures has been £5 os. 7d., compared with 
4#2 14s. 2d. last year. There have been seven papers read at the 
ordinary meetings, consisting of biography, natural history, science, 
etc., besides one open night, at which there was a lively debate on 
the land question ; and at the ordinary meetings, discussions some- 
times followed the papers. With regard to the ordinary meetings 
