376 Geological Society. 



M.A. F.R.S. ; Robert Hutton, Esq. M.P. M.R.I.A. ; Sir Charles 

 Lemon, Bart. M.P. F.R.S. ; Prof. Miller, M.A. ; R. I. Murchison, 

 Esq. F.U.S. &L.S.; Richard Owen, Esq. F.K.S. ; Sir Woodbine 

 Parish, K.C.H. F.R.S. ; George Rennie, Esq. F.R.S. ; Rev. Prof. 

 Whewell, F.R.S. 



Address delivered by the Rev. William Whewell, B.D. F.R.S. 

 President. 

 Gentlemen, 



The Reports which have been read show that the Society is still 

 in a state of progression as to numbers, although in consequence of 

 some oversights in preceding periods, the comparison of this year's 

 statement with that of last year does not at first sight give an accu- 

 rate view of our progress. 



I venture also to speak of our pecuniary condition as prosperous, 

 although, in the Estimates for the present year the expenses exceed 

 the income. This excess admits of explanation : the estimated ex- 

 penses include the cost of publishing a Part of our Transactions, 

 and as this occurs only about once in two years, the whole expense 

 ought not to be considered as belonging to one year. Stoves and 

 other articles of furniture, expenses not likely to recur, have also 

 inflamed the debtor side of our account. 



There is one considerable article in our estimated expenses, of 

 M hicli payment may not be required, but from Avhich I confess I 

 should be sorry to see the Society liberated. I speak of the salarj' 

 of our Curator. In my address last year I stated that the Council 

 had it in contemplation to make some arrangement by which Mr. 

 Lonsdale's labours, then far too heavy, should be lightened. This 

 was done, I believe to the satisfaction of every one, by separating 

 the office of Curator from that of Assistant Secretary, and to the former 

 office Mr. Wood was appointed, with a salary of 125/. The Council 

 found in Mr. Wood's zeal and knowledge every reason to congratulate 

 themselves on the possession of such an officer; and have heard with 

 regret that the state of his health compels him to resign his office. I 

 trust, however, that the Council will be able to provide some means 

 of I'endering the Society's Collection useful, without allowing Mr. 

 Lonsdale to be again burthened with a complication of duties inju- 

 rious to him and inconvenient to the Society. 



Although, as I have said, I look without any inquietude upon the 

 state of our funds, it is impossible not to allow that such an aspect 

 of them makes it necessary to attend to economy wherever it is 

 possible. There is one part of our establishment to which I am com- 

 pelled, most reluctantly, to apply this remark; I mean, our Library 

 and Museum. I fear that we must consider ourselves as under 

 the necessity of confining within very narrow limits any assistance 

 which can be rendered to those departments from our general funds. 

 And yet we cannot look at these parts of our establishment, and 

 especially at the Library, without seeing that they do in fact re- 

 quire very material adtlitious. Our Library, which ought to possess 

 ail the best books and maps which bear upon our science, is desti- 



