7 
A New DEPARTURE IN THE SOCIETY. 
In the next year a new departure was taken. Our friend, Mr. 
‘Wonfor, secured much fuller abstracts of the papers read ; the annua! 
-report was enlarged ; and these abstracts were published in it, and 
from thema very fair idea can be gathered of their modes of treat- 
ment of their subjects by the various lecturers. It will interest our 
friend, Mr. Rean, to know that during this year our late esteemed 
‘friend, Dr. Hallifax, gave us a paper, entitled, “On the Vertebrate and 
Invertebrate Eye compared,” and which was, as were all the Doctor’s 
papers, most able. Amongst the lecturers was one to whom we 
always listened with wrapt attention. I allude to Mr. Clifton Ward, 
afriend of the late Mr. Hennah, and through whose influence, I 
believe, we were indebted for several most valuable papers from 
Mr. Ward. The latter gentleman was on the Geological Survey, and 
was occupied principally in the Lake District. He was a master in his 
department. Without any written paper, by the aid of clever 
diagrams, he would make the dullest intellect understand the subject 
he was dealing with. At this time the late Mr. Gwatkin was our 
honorary librarian, and a special vote of thanks was _ passed 
‘to him for the accommodation afforded by him keeping the 
books at his house, and by the great facilities allowed to the 
members of being able at any time to procure them. And well 
ihe deserved such a vote. Many of you will remember that cupboard 
iin the back part of his shop, where our slender Library was then 
kept, and you will remember still more vividly the pleasant smile 
with which your application for a book or a periodical would 
be met, and how our late friend would leave his business 
occupations to assist us in finding what was wanting. On 
the 10th March, 1870, an event took place which was exceedingly 
‘interesting to me. On that evening it was decided to form a Micro- 
scopic Section. Previously to this time microscopic subjects had 
from time to time been brought before the members at the usual 
monthly meetings. It was found, however, that in consequence of the 
numbers taking an interest in microscopic work having increased, the 
monthly meetings did not afford sufficient scope for them, and it was 
decided that a monthly meeting should be held for the special purpose 
-of dealing with microscopic subjects. For many years that section 
flourished. Messrs. Wonfor, Hallifax, and Hennah were the life and 
soul of it. I have a very pleasant recollection of our numerous 
meetings, and of the varied information I obtained at them, and more 
‘particularly those very instructive and useful evenings in which one 
or other of the gentlemen I have named would give us a lesson in the 
use of methods of illumination, the making of cells, and the various 
methods of mounting objects. Very full and careful regulations 
were formulated for the conduct of this Microscopic Section 
The papers were limited to twenty minutes, so as to allow plenty of 
‘time for the examination of objects. A cabinet for objects was ordered, 
a custodian appointed, and strict regulations laid down as to the 
borrowing, use of, and damage to slides. Whenever we revive the 
Microscopic Section, and I hope we shall soon do so, we cannot do 
‘better than refer to these old regulations, from which we shall 
