REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



I have the satisfaction to announce the completion, as far as the 

 close of the year 1874, which was the period aimed at, of the 

 history of the Society. The chapters have, as completed from 

 time to time, been submitted to the examination of the President of 

 the Society. Besides this work, and keeping the records of the 

 Society and of the Executive Committee — the work coming under 

 the head of editorial, including making notes of our discussions, 

 writing out and submitting them to the various speakers for revi- 

 sion, the preparation of other matter contained in our Transactions 

 and Schedules for the press, and superintending its printing, together 

 with the reports of the weekly and annual exhibitions, all of which 

 may be classed as among the routine duties of the Secretary — the 

 correction of the lists of Honorary and Corresponding Members, 

 which stood in great need of revision, has engaged my attention. 

 These lists contained 345 names, of which 158 were unstarred, and 

 of the latter there were 75 members, some of them among the first 

 chosen at the organization of the Society in 1829, from whom 

 nothing had been heard for many years, and of whom we did not 

 even know whether or not they were still living. It was believed 

 that a large part of this number must have deceased, and diUgent 

 correspondence has resulted in ascertaining that such was the case 

 with more than half the number, whose names will appear in our next 

 publication with the prefix of " the inevitable star," and in making 

 man}^ other corrections. I would here return thanks in behalf of 

 the Society, to all who have so courteously and freely given their 

 assistance in revising these lists, and would ask all correspondents 

 of the Society, and any others into whose hands our publications 

 may fall, to communicate such information as to the decease or 

 change of residence of Honorary or Corresponding Members, or on 

 other points, as will aid in the further correction of the lists. 



Besides the subjects above mentioned, there have been the usual 



miscellaneous calls for information on different subjects, which, as 



might be expected, increase rather than diminish in number from 



year to year, all of which have been answered to the best of my 



ability. 



ROBERT MANNING, Secretary. 



