HISTORY OF OUR SOCIETY. 197 
To instance the great diversity of subjects, I will mention 
the following: ‘‘ Monumental Brasses,” by Mr. Bromwich; 
‘The Idylls of the King,” by Mr. Thrift; ‘‘ Cyclones,” by 
Mr. A. J. Brown; ‘Trout and Grayling,” by Mr. Morland 
Day; ‘‘ British Ferns,’”’ by Bishop Mitchinson; ‘‘The Peas- 
ants’ Revolt in 1381, by Mr. Bence; and ‘‘ Westminster 
Abbey,” by Mr. Moxon. I must here refer to Dr. Mason’s 
first Presidential Address in 1889, on ‘* The Functions of 
Natural History Societies,” as it was not until I had con- 
sidered the subject matter of my paper for this evening 
and made a sketch of the headings under which to treat it, 
that I recalled that paper, and, reading it over, saw how 
thoroughly I had been forestalled in that portion of my 
subject. 
Popular Lectures were again tried with varying success, 
four in 1888, by Professors Rudler and Clowes and Mr. 
Whitworth Wallis, and four in 1889 by Miss Amelia B. 
Edwards, Professor Tilden, Max O’Rell, and the Rev. J. 
G. Wood, but the average attendance being under 200 they 
were financially a failure. Mr. Whitworth Wallis was again 
engaged in 1890, and the Rev. T. Wood and Mr. Herbert 
Ward lectured in 1891, the attendance being somewhat 
more satisfactory. 
In January, 1890, a very successful Conversazione was 
held in St. Paul’s Institute. 
Since 1892 the Office of President has been held by 
Drs. Morris and Mason, whilst Messrs. Morland Day, 
J. E. Nowers and J. G. Wells, and T. Gibbs, have success- 
ively carried out the duties of Honorary Secretary. The 
work done in this period is well known to most of you, 
and, by comparison, proves the interest of members to be 
as wide and well sustained as ever. 
It will thus be seen that the original aim of the pro- 
moters of the Society in so far that it should provide 
Scientific Papers for members and popularise science has 
