47 
VALEDICTORY ADDRESS 
DELIVERED BY THE RETIRING PRESIDENT, 
SAMUEL JEFFERSON, F.CS., 
AT THE SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING, 
FEBRUARY 27th, 1877. 
Gentlemen, : 
In retiring from the honorable post in connection with this 
Society, to which a year ago you were good enough to elect me, 
it now falls to my lot to occupy your attention for a short time 
upon various topics in connection with our pursuits. 
_ And first permit me to congratulate you upon the Report which 
has just been read. That report is one to which Iam sure we 
must all have listened with unmixed satisfaction. Whether we 
view it from the mere stand-point of numbers, the very large 
increase recorded being one index of our progress ; or if we look 
not merely at the increment of enrolled members, but notice the 
regular and steady attendance at the meetings; or if again we 
view the year’s work with reference to the character of the papers 
read, we find ample ground for congratulation. You will all join ~ 
_ with me in recognizing that the success of the past year is due in 
avery great measure to the unwearied energy of our Honorary 
Secretary. Before occupying the post which I now resign into 
_the hands of our new president, I was strongly impressed with 
the extent to which we are indebted to Mr. Roebuck for his 
indefatigable prosecution of his duties. Closer acquaintance 
during the past year has greatly strengthened my recognition of 
the fact, and I feel that when it thus falls to my lot to speak of 
our favorable condition, I should be wanting in duty if I omitted 
to-express our gratitude to our Honorary Secretary. 
In reviewing our work for the past year the mind naturally first 
turns to the papers which have been read. Some of these, 
especially the one read by Mr. Coates on the “Roman Wall” and 
that by Mr. Sladen on the Echinodermata, were illustrated by very 
fine sets of diagrams ; these were greatly appreciated by the mem- 
_ bers who were present. It was very evident that these gentlemen 
were thoroughly in love with their respective subjects and so easily 
‘contrived by their enthusiasm to awaken a deep interest in their 
listeners. A previous president, Mr. Hick, favored the Association 
with two very valuable papers, upon the c Protococcus pluvialis” 
