70 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
dent who had exerted himself so much or accomplished such good 
things for the Society. (Loud cheers.) 
The PresipEnT said it had been his wish to retire in the ordinary 
course at the endof his present year of office; but at the urgent 
solicitation of the Council he had consented to assume the respon- 
sibilities of office during another year, if it should please the 
members to confer the honour upon him. When he had first 
accepted the post he had to remark that his pursuits gave him but 
little claim to a reputation as a microscopist, as the result of 
many years’ close occupation with the telescope had so unsteadied 
his eye that he found himself unable to apply himself to micro- 
scopical studies to the extent he wished. He hoped the members 
would therefore understand his silence sometimes as President 
when important papers were read at their meetings, as he felt it 
to be his duty to hold his tongue in cases where, by reason of his 
lack of knowledge and experience, he could not speak with so 
much authority as would be attached to the utterances of many 
of the gentlemen around him. He could, however, give his hearty 
assurance that in any other way he would spare no effort in 
placing the Society in the important position which its objects 
deserved, and he hoped that the next few months would see the 
Society occupying, if possible, a still higher rank than that which 
had been already attained. 
The PreEstDENT said he rose to perform a most pleasing duty. 
When, being in earnest and influenced by a strong desire to 
attain success, they met with valuable co-operation, heartily 
given, regardless of the time or trouble it cost, the desire was 
very natural that they should offer every expression of their 
gratitude to those who rendered them such help. He felt that 
they had had such help from Mr. Burr, who, when the question of 
a Royal Charter was at first suggested, had come forward in the 
handsomest manner and given the Society the benefit of his pro- 
fessional asssistance without fee or reward, and, from the first 
moment of his putting his hand to the work until it was crowned 
with success, he had not for an instant swerved from his purpose. 
The Council of the Society, knowing, as they did, that the fact of 
their having obtained their Charter so soon was mainly due to the 
indefatigable labours of Mr. Burr, had determined to offer that 
gentleman some slight memento of their gratitude; and he (the 
President) felt that in this they were only expressing the wish of 
the members as a body. They had accordingly obtained the silver 
inkstand now on the table, bearing this inscription : 
“Presented to T. W. Burr, Esq.. F.R.A.S., F.C.S., F.MS., 
&c., by the Council and Fellows of the Microscopical Society 
of London, in acknowledgment of his professional services in 
obtaining the Royal Charter of Incorporation. 10th October, 
1866.” 
The PrestpEent, addressing Mr. Burr, said—I have only now 
