PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 107 
On July 10, 1876, I received a letter from my friend Professor 
H. L. Smith, of Hobart College, N.Y., from which I quote the fol- 
lowing remarks :—“ I have just noticed your account of Mr. Bramhall’s 
oblique light illuminator. It is an old dodge over here. I have one, 
made over ten years ago; a piece of looking-glass plate with a 
ledge.’ It thus appears that this method of illumination has had 
several discoverers. It seems to have been known in New York five 
or six years before Mr. Van der Weyde of that city described it in 
August 1871, as probably a new contrivance; Mr.- Mason, of Pro- 
vidence, discovered it “‘ some time ago” (this may mean six or 
seven years); and lastly, Mr. Bramhall “discovers” the same thing 
about twelve months ago. But leaving the discoverer out of the 
question, it is the best and easiest plan for the resolution of striz I 
am acquainted with. 
Yours very truly, 
F. Kirron, Hon. F.R.M.S. 
PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
Royat Microscopican Society. 
Krne’s Cotuece, January 3, 1877. 
Charles Brooke, Esq., F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair. 
The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. 
A list of donations to the Society since the last meeting was read 
by the Secretary, and the thanks of the meeting were voted to the 
donors. 
The Chairman gave notice that the next meeting would be made 
special in order to vote the suspension of Bye-law No. 27 so far as 
related to the office of President. By the law no person should 
occupy the office of President for more than two consecutive years, 
but in accordance with the unanimous recommendation of the Council 
it was resolved to re-elect H. C. Sorby, Esq., to the office for a third 
year. To enable this to be done, it would be necessary fur the bye-law 
to be suspended. 
The Chairman further reminded the Fellows that the next meeting 
would be their anniversary, at which the election of officers and 
Council for the ensuing year would take place; and the following 
“House List” was submitted, it being competent for any Fellow to 
propose additional names to be printed with those proposed by the 
Council : 
As President—H. C. Sorby, Esq. 
As Vice-Presidents—Sir John Lubbock, Dr. Lionel S. Beale, Rey. 
W. H. Dallinger, and Mr. Hugh Powell. 
As Treasurer—Mr. J. W. Stephenson. 
As Secretaries—Mr. H. J. Slack and Mr. Charles Stewart. 
As Members of the Council—Drs. Braithwaite, Lawson, and Millar ; 
VOL. XVII. I 
