THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. XXXV. 



same good feeling that had been shown to him during his tenure of the 

 presidency would be continued to his successor, so that, when in the course of 

 time he in turn felt obliged to relinquish the chair, he should have the same 

 degree of kindness and support to acknowledge which he himself was acknow- 

 ledging at that moment. 



Lord EUSTACE CECIL said that 



nominations for election were always an anxiety. Having held the office of 

 President for two years, he was quite aware that certain qualifications were 

 required in the President of the Club. The ideal President, although he did not 

 for one moment suggest that he came up to that standard, should certainly be a 

 man of intelligence, with an adequate amount of scientific knowledge. He 

 should certainly be active and tactful, and should have the ability to say "No " 

 with the sweet reasonableness which always disarmed all opposition especially 

 in the event of ladies asking questions which were difficult to answer. And, 

 above all, on occasions when his temper and patience were tried, he should be 

 able to " suffer fools gladly." Now, he thought that the gentleman whom 

 he was going to propose to them as President possessed all these qualifica- 

 tions, and also the additional qualification of having known the business of the 

 Club for ten years or more, and of having established the reputation of being the 

 most popular Secretary that ever was known a popularity which, he thought 

 they would all agree with him, continued to that day. He need scarcely tell 

 them that the name of the gentleman whom he was about to propose to them, 

 with the assent of the Executive Committee, 'was that of Mr. Nelson M. 

 Eichardson. He had every confidence that his name, from the plaudits which he 

 had heard, would be received with gratification, and that he would be elected 

 unanimously. And he was certain that whatever he did, and whatever policy he 

 gave his mind to, that policy would be conceived in the interests and in the 

 interests alone of the Club to which he had given so many years already, and 

 whose welfare he always had at heart. , 



Dr. COLLEY MARCH said that 



he seconded the motion with pleasure, because, as a successor to Mr. Eichard- 

 son in the secretariat, few people knew better than he did how thoroughly 

 Mr. Eichardson had the interest of the Club at heart, and how much he had done 

 for its advancement. 



The motion was carried unanimously with acclamation. 

 Lord EUSTACE CECIL then said that he would follow a 

 distinguished precedent. When a new Speaker of the House 

 of Commons was chosen, he was always conducted to the chair 

 by the oldest members of the House, and he should now be 

 pleased to conduct his successor to the chair, where he trusted 

 that he would take his place at once and conduct the remainder 



