



and authority Avliich could not fail to enable the Association to do 

 most valuable work in the Lewisham District. 



On the recommendation of the Council, the Rules have been 

 altered to allow of the admission of ladies as Members. It is 

 hoped that this alteration will not prevent any ladies who have 

 hitherto attended as visitors, and who do not desire to become 

 Members, from continuing to favour the Association with their 

 company at the Lectures. 



This Association, in common with other local Literary and 

 Scientific bodies, has presented a memorial to the Trustees of the 

 Lewisham Parochial Charities, asking for a grant of funds towards 

 the foundation and maintenance of an Institute for the benefit 

 of the inhabitants of Lewisham generally, and to serve as a centre 

 for all movements having for their object the spread of information 

 and culture among the people. The memorial has been favourably 

 entertained, and the approval of the Charity Commissioners has 

 been given to it. The Council are, therefore, in confident hope 

 of shortly seeing the proix)sal put into practical form. 



The Council regret that illness has deprived the Association, 

 at some of its recent meetings, of the very efl&cient services of 

 Mr. Thomas Mansfield, who has from the foundation of the 

 Association generously and zealously given his assistance in the 

 arrangements for the evening meetings, and to whom, in con- 

 sequence, the Association is very much indebted. 



It is gratifying to find in the recently-published book, " The 

 Life and Letters of Charles Darwin," edited by his son Francis 

 Darwin, the following reference to the visit of the Association to 

 Mr. Darwin at Down : — " 1880. He also received in the same year 

 a visit from some of the Members of the Lewisham and Blackheath 

 Scientific Association, — a visit which was, I thmk, enjoyed by 

 both y;uests and host." — Vol. iii, page 227 



