290 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
to offer to young microscopists the great advantage of class in- 
struction in the management and use of the microscope. The 
patience and success with which the course of instruction was 
carried out during the winter of 1865-6 have been, if possible, 
surpassed during the winter 1866-7. The Committee feel they 
would be ill-discharging their duty were they to omit to express 
to Mr. Suffolk the warmest thanks of the Club for his continued 
efforts to promote its usefulness. 
“Encouraged by the support which the Club has hitherto re- 
ceived from microscopists generally, your Committee ventured, on 
the 4th of January last, to give a Soirée to the members and their 
friends. Unfortunately, a frost of almost unparalleled severity 
prevailed, which rendered locomotion of all kinds nearly imprac- 
ticable ; but notwithstanding this great impediment to success, 
there was a large attendance of ladies and gentlemen on the 
occasion. 
“ Since the last Annual General Meeting, 180 gentlemen have 
enrolled themselves as members of the Club, and during the same 
period 12 names have been removed from the list of members in 
consequence of death or other causes, leaving the present number 
of members at 278. 
“Such is a brief epitome of the history of the second year of the 
Quekett Microscopical Club, by which it will be seen how far the 
objects for which it was formed have been attained, and how 
much may be done to advance the cause of science, whilst seeking 
new and boundless fields of enjoyment. In conclusion, your 
Committee desire to impress upon members the conviction, that 
as the usefulness of the Club and the small amount of subscrip- 
tion are made known to their respective circles of friends, the 
number of members cannot fail to be considerably augmented.” 
The Treasurer’s Report, showing a satisfactory balance-sheet 
was read. 
The members then proceeded to the election of Officers for the 
ensuing year. 
The Presipent.—The Scrutineers are now finishing their 
work, and I beg permission to take my leave of you before I am 
formally extinct; for a very few minutes more will put an end to 
my official existence. I value very highly the honour you did me 
in offering me the distinguished post of President, and that, for 
the most part, without a personal knowledge of me, or even of my 
fitness for the office. But, whatever may have been expected of 
me, I hope I have been able in some measure to fulfil those anti- 
cipations. For my own part, I have endeavoured to do my dut 
to the Club as far as I could. The President of a Society of this 
kind is, however, in truth one of its most unimportant members : 
he is to it what a monarch is to a limited monarchy, a sort of 
State puppet to perform the nation’s will. I hope 1 have been 
able to perform those duties satisfactorily. I have some reason 
to believe, from the kind receptions which you haye given me, 
