114 Transactions of the [f^;:^,Sr^. 



preventing the possibility of ourselves being mistaken for micro- 

 scopic objects. This was admitted, and hence our name. An 

 arrangement was made in due course for drawing up suitable rules 

 and laws, and after a few preliminary meetings at Messrs. Bower- 

 bank's, Quekett's, and Ward's, the " Microscopical Society of 

 London " had both a local habitation and a name, under the pre- 

 sidency of Professor Owen, on the 29th of January, 1840.* From 

 this date the appointed monthly meetings of the Society were 

 regularly held, but the Monday evening meetings at Ishngton and 

 Highbury were not yet interrupted. There the net was still 

 spread, and the bait, too tempting to be refused, seldom failed to 

 prove the skill of the angler in adding new members to our body. 

 The varied treasures of well-arranged cabinets were always open 

 for inspection, so that those — and they were many — who brought 

 new objects of interest, received an ample equivalent in the know- 

 ledge they carried away. Many fields of microscopical research, 

 now indeed well trodden, were then only just ventured upon by a 

 few ; and it will always be a pleasant recollection to Dr. Bowerbank 

 that he was able to offer efficient assistance to the authors of 

 valuable works, which tended in no small degree to advance micro- 

 scopical investigation. Many of the objects figured by Mantell in 

 his ' Wonders of Geology ' and ' Medals of Creation,' were first of 

 all exhibited to Dr. Bowerbank and his friends; and Professor 

 Owen derived no small assistance both from Dr. Bowerbank's 

 microscope and my own, in the exquisite drawings by Lens Aldous 



* Extract from the first Historical Doci:ment in the Archives of 

 THE E. M. S. 



" At a meeting held at the house of B. J. Quekett, Esq., "Wellcloso Square, 

 September 3rd, 1839, to take into consideration the propriety of forming a Society 

 for the promotion of Microscopical investigation, and for the introduction and 

 improvement of the Microscope as a scientific instrument, 



" Present, the following gentlemen : — 



Rev. J. T. Bean, 



Mr. J. S. Bowerbank, 

 Dr. F. Farre, 

 Mr. Francis, 



„ Greening, 



„ Jackson, 



„ Lister, 



„ g. loddiges, 



„ c. loddiges, 



Mr. E. J. Quekett, 

 Rev. J. B. Reade, 

 Mr. Rippingham, 

 „ Ross, 



„ R. H. Solly, 

 „ C. Varley, 

 „ N.B.Ward, 

 „ A. White, 



" It was resolved, that such a Society should be formed, tliat a provisional com- 

 mittee be appointed to carry tlic resolution into effect, and tliat the said committee 

 do consist of the luidermontinncd gentlemen, viz. : — 



INIessrs. Bowekkank, Lister, Loddiges, Q-wskett, Reade, Solly, and Ward. 



" The provisional committee having held several meetings, it was resolved, 

 that the following Rules and Regulations be recommended for adoi^tion : — 



"1st. That the Society be designated ' The Microscopical Society of Loudon.' " 



Then follow twenty Rules, which were adopted at the first public meeting, 

 undijr the presidency of Professor Owen. 



