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The main building will be shortly delivered over to our custody ; and 

 I entertain confident hopes that the removal of the Society may take 

 place early in the ensuing year, though the Great Hall in the west 

 wing may not be in a fit state for painting. This, however, will not 

 prevent its temporary occupation until such time as it may be neces- 

 sary to vacate it for the purpose of its final completion. 



During the recess and progress of the works, suggestions of certain 

 alterations in the official plans have been made, some of which have 

 been acceded to by the Government, and I have every reason to 

 believe that no unnecessary delay will be allowed to take place in 

 finishing all that yet remains to be done. 



On such an important question as an entire change of abode, and 

 the abandonment of a locality occupied for so many years, and, as was 

 truly said by a distinguished Fellow of our Society, associated with 

 many hallowed names and reminiscences, it is impossible to expect 

 complete unanimity of opinion, and there may be some among us 

 who still doubt the propriety of the step which has been taken ; but 

 they will, I am sure, give those who have approved of the change 

 credit for having been actuated solely by a sincere wish to promote 

 the interests of Science and of this Society. I still entertain the 

 sentiments on this subject which I took the liberty of expressing on 

 two occasions when I addressed you from this Chair ; indeed I am, if 

 possible, more than ever persuaded that great and lasting benefit will 

 accrue to Science from our removal to a site more accessible to the 

 great majority of our Members, and from the other advantages which 

 must follow in its train. It has been suggested, that the two Societies 

 about to be associated with us, should for the future hold their meet- 

 ings contemporaneously with those of the Royal Society ; so that on 

 those days on which the Linnean and Chemical Societies meet, their 

 Members may be enabled to join us in friendly converse after the 

 business of the evening has been concluded. I hope I am not too 

 sanguine in anticipating great advantages from these assemblies of 

 earnest cultivators of science, devoted followers of one of the most 

 deeply interesting and important of all human pursuits, in a building 

 not only adorned with the portraits of some of the most distinguished 

 men who ever shed the lustre of their genius on the country which gave 

 them birth, but containing on its walls, in convenient juxtaposition, 

 three scientific libraries, the accumulated treasures of ages of uu- 



