os ee eee ~~ 
oe 
13 
ation and decay of languages. The remainder of the 
lecture was occupied with a special study of the English 
Language. The origin, history and development of the 
Teutonic language was sketched, and reference made to 
the influence on our tongue of the Romans, Saxons, 
Normans and other races. History and Topography 
could be studied from Place-names, examples _ being 
given to illustrate this. Some curious instances of word 
derivations were given. 
On Friday, 1st November, a very successful Con- 
versazione was held at the rooms of the Hampstead 
Library. The Rt. Hon. Sir Richard Temple, Bart., 
F.R.S., delivered a Presidential Address to inaugurate 
the Session 1901—1902. He reviewed the work of the 
Society since its formation and touched upon the work 
of the new Session. The President urged the import- 
ance of the proposed Public Art Gallery and Museum as 
being likely to take the form of a Natural History 
Museum, and drew attention to the fast vanishing Fauna 
and Flora of Hampstead. 
There was a good display of- microscopes; a 
Réntgen Ray apparatus, kindly lent by Dr. Womack ; 
exhibits by Members of the Photographic Section ; 
natural history specimens, including a number of insects 
and botanical specimens; and Chinese curios by Mr. 
George Dolman ; etc., etc. 
Friday, 6th December, 1901. The Rt. Hon. Sir 
Richard Temple, Bart., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 
Dr. A. Hugh Thompson, M.A., M.D., read a paper 
entitled “‘ The Human Eye,” illustrated by diagrams and 
by the microscope. The lecturer remarked that the power 
of sight was dependent, not on the eye alone, but also 
on the brain, for if certain parts of the brain were injured, 
