130 Transactions of the [I'^^Xl^Jt^^. 



a demand both for first-class instruments, and, what is of equal 

 importance, for those of an educational character. 



That the Society, now numbering more than 450 members, 

 has for many years pubUshed, and continues to publish, records of 

 its Transactions and Proceedings, and has accumulated a valuable 

 Library of Microscopical and Philosophical works, and a large col- 

 lection of objects, preparations and instruments. 



That many of the researches promoted by the Society have a 

 direct bearing upon questions of public health, the propagation 

 and prevention of disease, the adulteration of food and medicine, and 

 the detection of frauds upon the excise, and that the assistance 

 and counsel of Fellows of the Society have been sought by official 

 persons in departments of the pubhc service where the microscope 

 is in frequent use. 



That the Society is under the special patronage of His Ptoyal 

 Highness the Prince of Wales, and has received in the title con- 

 ferred upon it a distinguished mark of Her Most Gracious Majesty's 

 royal favour. 



The Chief Commissioner of "Works, acknowledging his own per- 

 sonal interest in the advancement of Microscopical Science, very 

 kindly submitted for the inspection of the deputation a plan of the 

 new buildings at Burlington House, and he expressed his regret that 

 all but one set of apartments at the top of the building had been 

 appropriated to the larger wants of other Societies by the former 

 Government. He also pointed out certain alterations which might 

 be made in the plan for the more convenient arrangement of our 

 library and instruments, and intimated his wish that apphcation 

 should be made to the Linnean Society for the occasional use of 

 their own meeting-room. At the same time, while expressing 

 a decided opinion as to the propriety of our apphcation, the Chief 

 Commissioner of Works distinctly stated that the uncertainty 

 which hung over the whole business — the contract even had not 

 been signed — prevented him from formally committing himself to 

 a definite promise of the apartments, and he hoped we should be 

 satisfied with the statement he had made. 



Your Council cannot but feel that the sincere regret expressed 

 by the late Chief Commissioner at not being able to make a definite 

 promise, and the recollection of his very courteous and friendly 

 reception of the deputation, form the best ground for hope that the 

 present Chief Commissioner of Public Works, at the proper time, will 

 kindly gratify the Society by a grant of the apartments in question. 

 The historical character of my Address suggests a few remarks 

 on the pubhcation of our ' Transactions.' ' The Microscopic Journal,' 

 edited by David Cooper, in 1840 contained the first brief record of 

 the ' Proceedings ' of our Society. In the first volume we find the 

 important statement that the papers read at the several monthly 



