29 
in which our just expectations have been fulfilled. Our 
intercourse with each other has been most cordial and 
agreeable ; old friendships have been drawn closer, and new 
ones made fast by 
The secret sympathy, 
The silver link, the silken tie 
of congeniality of taste that binds us together. At our 
monthly meetings all unnecessary formalities, all affectation 
of deep learning, all assumption of superiority of knowledge 
by one member over another, have been avoided ; aud there 
has been an undeviating readiness on the part of each to im- 
part the result of his experience for the benefit of all. Iam 
especially gratified by the perseverance that has been shown 
by a large number of the members in bring their microscopes 
to our meetings. The display of interesting objects, and the 
conversation it gives rise to respecting their preparation and 
mounting, is an important feature in our proceedings; and 
the facility thus afforded for the illustration of the papers 
read, by the exhibition of the organisms, &c., described, is an 
advantage which cannot be too highly estimated. I am 
proud to tell you, gentlemen, that in this particular our Club 
excels every similar Society with which I am acquainted. I 
need not say that I desire to see this custom steadily per- 
sisted in, and I hope that other members who possess 
microscopes will not allow a trifling personal inconvenience 
to interfere with their bringing them to our meetings, 
remembering that each one of a fraternity like ours should 
feel pleasure in performing the duty of contributing to the 
general stock of information and enjoyment. The papers 
read have been so interesting as invariably, I believe, to make 
you wish they were longer; and I cannot but congratulate 
you on having had amongst our lecturers two such eminent 
men as our treasurer, Mr. Flower, and Mr. Carruthers, of 
the British Museum. I have the promise of papers in the 
future from other gentlemen equally well known in other de- 
partments of science, and I am sure that you will know how 
to appreciate such valuble assistance. But I should like to 
have more frequently brought before us unassuming but prac- 
tical communications from our members themselves—like that 
by Mr. Perry, ‘‘On Mosses,’”’—and to encourage Conversa- 
tional discussions of difficulties encountered in mounting 
objects, and other such matters, in order that beginners may 
be benefitted by the experience of those amongst us who have 
long since overcome many of the obstacles which impede the 
success of the novice. In their Report, the Committee have 
alluded to the excursions which were organised during the 
past summer. I have every reason to believe that we shall 
