ee 
NATURAL HISTORY & PHILOSOPHICAL 
SOCTIE T ee * 
On the evening of Thursday, the 24th instant, being the 
birthday of Linnzeus, the annual meeting of this Society 
was held at the Museum—Robert Patterson, Esq., V.P., 
in the Chair. 
The Secrerary read the following report :-- 
“In laying before you their annual report, for the 
twelve months ending Ist May, 1849, the Council have 
much pleasure in stating, that the past Session occupies a 
prominent place among those recorded in the proceedings 
of the Society; since it has been exceeded by none, of late 
years, either in the number of the meetings held, or in the 
yariety and interest of the communications brought for- 
ward. 
. “There were fourteen meetings during the Session, 
at seyen of which were public and seven ordinary meetings. 
r “ The Session was opened by Mr. Getty, with an ad- 
dress ‘On the Progress of Scientific Knowledge.’ 
“ At the other public meetings, the following lectures 
were delivered:—The first, by Dr. Stevelly, ‘on the Pro- 
cesses of Copper-smelting at Swansea;’ the second, by 
Mr. Thompson, ‘on Irish Ornithology;’ the third, by Mr. 
Hyndman, ‘on the Sea Serpent;’ the fourth, by the Rev. 
Dr. Robinson, ‘on the physical appearances of the Moon’s 
surface;’ the fifth, by the Rev. W. Reeves, ‘on the Topo- 
graphy of Ireland; the sixth, by Mr. Getty, ‘on the Tides.’ 
“The Society is much indebted to two of its honorary 
members, Dr. Robinson and Mr. Reeves, for the public 
lectures they delivered ; and to the eminent astronomer, 
especially, for having imparted, in so pleasing and popu- 
Jar a manner, so much valuable instruction. 
_ “Of the private papers, three had for their subject de- 
partments of natural history ; one was astronomical, one 
