tions on subjects of interest to naturalists from the Bishop of Bar- 

 bados, as a corresponding member of the Society. 



The evening meetings for scientific business wei'e always held on the 

 first Wednesday of every month, until Dr. Mitchinson suggested that 

 Thursday would be a more convenient day to him. But this reason 

 no longer remaining, the Committee proposes that these meetings 

 should be again held on "Wednesdays. In that case it will only be 

 required to make the needful alterations in the card of the meetings. 

 As already noticed, the scientific proceedings of the Society are 

 now regularly published, sometimes affording additions to one or 

 other branch of natural science, sometimes to a more particular 

 knowledge of the natural pi-oductions of the East Kent district ; and 

 always, it is hoped, with the effect of exciting a further spirit of 

 rational inquiry concerning subjects of great importance, which will 

 surely in future form part and parcel of a liberal education. But 

 while afiirming this point, which is still a vexed question in some 

 highly respectable quarters, your Committee would not be under- 

 stood to maintain that the often theoretical and speculative, and 

 constantly changing and progressive, science of natural history, 

 can ever advantageously supplant, in the sei-vice of education, those 

 exact sciences and fixed languages which have so long and success- 

 fully maintained their ground in our schools. Thus far your Com- 

 mittee, on the part of the Society, would avoid the too common error 

 of overrating the value of natural science ; since its inherent interest 

 and importance, and its great usefulness in training the mind to 

 observation and reflection on the works which nature has so bounti- 

 fully provided for oiir amusement and instruction, are indisputable 

 facts sufiiciently obvious to pi'ove and proclaim the true merits of 

 such studies. 



In conclusion, jowr Committee suggests that the warmest thanks 

 of the Society should be given to all its ofiicers for the very careful 

 and efficient manner in which they have discharged their respective 

 duties. 



The Committee's report having been adopted and ordered to be 

 printed, the meeting unanimously and cordially elected the Very 

 Rev. the Dean of Canterbury to the office of President for the 

 ensuing year, and the Right Rev. the Bishop of Barbados to be a 

 corresponding member of the Society. In like manner the thanks 

 of the Society were voted to all its officers, and they were re-elected 

 to their respective posts. A sum of £15 was voted for additions to 

 the library during the ensuing year, and of £5 for further micro- 

 scopic apparatus. 



REPORT OP THE LIBRARIAN FOR THE YEAR 1873. 



The amount at the disposal of the Librarian during the year 

 1873, granted from the general fund of the Society, was £15, less 

 Gs. 5d. spent in excess in 1872, and repaid to the Treasurer — leaving 

 £14 13s. 7d. 



Of this sum £9 15s. 5d. was spent in the pui-chase of new books, 

 &c., a list of which is given below, and £4 15s. 5d. for periodicals, 

 leaving a balance of 28. 9d. in hand. 



