122 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
Microscoricat Society, October 28th, 1858. 
Dr. Lanxester, President, in the chair. 
Eighteen presents of books were announced, and the thanks 
of the Society returned to their respective donors. 
Mr. Jackson presented eleven microscopical photographic 
portraits, with the accompanying letter : 
Sir,—Some of the learned and scientific societies of this 
metropolis have ornamented the walls of their meeting rooms 
with portraits of their distinguished members. 
The Microscopical Society, having neither walls to orna- 
ment nor funds to expend, cannot in this way follow the 
example of their more opulent and longer established brethren; 
and the next generation of members would seem to be pre- 
cluded from the pleasure of contemplating the countenances 
of the eminent persons who founded the Society, and watched 
over its infancy. 
Thanks, however, to the researches of one of our body, this 
pleasure may still be secured to them; for, although we can- 
not hang our rooms with portraits, these may be so reduced 
as to occupy but a small space in our cabinet, and our micro- 
scopes will always render them available for examination. 
I therefore propose that one of our drawers be appropriated 
to the reception of likenesses of our past and present mem- 
bers; and as the art of taking these portraits, of a microscopic 
size, is now practised by several persons, I do not despair of 
seeing a respectable collection formed in a short time. As a 
commencement I beg to present eleven of these photographs, 
and I only regret that the number is so small. I have made 
no invidious selection, not having omitted a single member 
that has favoured me with a sitting; and if Mr. Shadbolt, 
Mr. Hislop, Mr. White, and any other of our friends who 
have taken up this branch of photography, will each do his 
best, we may expect to see in our possession, within the next 
twelve months, a larger number of authentic portraits than 
most other societies can boast of. 
