8 
gain useful hints for the good working of the Section. A 
the same meeting a_ resolution was passed, whereby it was 
recommended that members should assist the Secretaries with notes 
of objects shewn, and abstracts of papers read, so that a full and 
accurate record of the work done in the Society might be preserved. 
Of late years we have availed ourselves of the assistance of the Press, 
and so have not required so much attention to this recommendation ; 
but now that we have again reverted to the old plan of dispensing 
with the services of the Press, it will be as well that members 
should have the necessity for some such assistance to the Secretaries 
brought to their minds, for it 7s of importance that a full and 
accurate record of the work done in the Society should be preserved. 
I have been astonished in going over the reports and minutes for 
the purposes of this paper to findso valuable a mine of all kinds of 
information stored up in its records. 
Tue INTRODUCTION OF SOIREES. 
On the 11th January, 1872, a great event took place, namely, the 
first attempt of the Society to give an invitation soirée. It was held 
in the Board-room of the Dispensary, and proved most successful, 
about 200 members and friends attending it. One great feature of it 
was that nearly all the objects contributed were illustrative of papers 
read before the Society during the previous year. These soirées 
were continued for many years, and have only lately been discontinued. 
In April, 1872, we decided to subscribe for the daily weather 
reports from the Meteorological Office, and that subscription has 
been kept up to the present time. 
Visit or British ASsocIATION TO BRIGHTON. 
In August, 1872, the officers of the Society were in a great state of 
excitement. The British Association visited Brighton, and the Natural 
History Society was, asa matter of course, expected to render great 
assistance to the town in entertaining the members and associates 
of the Institution. The Natural History Society was asked to 
furnish microscopes for the two soirées given by the Association, and, 
thanks to the energy of Mr. Wonfor, about 50 microscopes were got 
together, and two most interesting series of objects were exbibited. 
Dr. Badcock specially taking considerable trouble to get together 
numerous living objects. We all remember how admirably Mr. B. 
Lomax managed the exhibition of the living Flora. I think the efforts of 
the Society on that occasion were fully recognised by the town authorities, 
and, so farasI remember, that was the only, or at least the chie 
occasion on which the Society has been able to render efficient assistant 
on a great public occasion. In the following October another great 
move was made. The Committee decided to ask the Corporation to 
accommodate us in this building. We were met in the most courteous 
and liberal spirit by the Town Council, and ultimately it was arranged 
that we should be allowed the use of this noble room for all our meetings 
upon condition that we allowed the public the use of our books in the 
Library for reading in the building only. This arrangement has con- 
tinued until now, and with equal benefit to the Society, and to the 
public. We get the use free of cost of a very suitable room, 
and the public get the benefit of the use of our exceedingly 
