ANNUAL REPORT. 



The Chester Society of Natural Science has now been in 

 existence fifteen years, and is on the whole in a prosperous 

 condition. We have amongst us many who were with us from 

 the first, and those who have joined us in later years have done 

 much to further the interests of the Society, and are earnest 

 supporters of its welfare. During the past year we have had 

 to deplore the loss of one of our Yice-Presidents, Dr. Howson ; 

 three of our distinguished Honorary Members : W. B. 

 Carpenter, Esq., M.D., F.E.S. ; Gteorge Bentham, Esq., 

 F.E.S., F.L.S. ; and D. C Davies, Esq., F.G.S. ; and also our 

 valued friend Me. C. F. Fish. 



Yovu' Committee must here express their deep sorrow at 

 the loss of Dr. Howson, one of our first Vice-Presidents, and 

 one who was associated with the Society, and its Founder, from 

 its earliest days. Dr. Howson was Secretary to the Chester 

 Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, and took an active 

 part in raising funds towards its completion. He was zealous 

 in promoting all good works for the welfare of the citizens, 

 and his kindly sympathy will be greatly missed by those who 

 were associated with him in the promotion of Science and Art. 



Dr. Carpenter's loss is one to be universally lamented, 

 and our Society (many of whose Members had the pleasure 

 of knowing him personally) were truly grieved to hear of his 

 death. 



It is our sad duty, also, to record the death of one whose 

 life had for several years been closely connected with our Society. 

 In Mr. Charles Fish the Society has lost a Member to whose 

 many-sided activity in its service it is scarcely possible to do 

 justice. The example of his own ardent love for Nature, of his 

 single-minded devotion to the Truth which Nature teaches, has 

 of itself done much, during the years that he has been one of us, 

 to promote the ends for which the Society was founded. Himself 

 a constant and regular attendant at all meetings of the Society, 



