addresses. 



16 



tunities for the advancement of Science, especially at 

 the seasons in question, might have been lost. The 

 Government has moreover formally recognised our 

 scientific existence by appointing our President for 

 the time being a member of the Government Fund 

 Committee ; and the public has added its testimony to 

 our importance and utility by imposing upon our Presi- 

 dent and officers a variety of duties, among which are 

 conspicuous those which arise out of its very liberal 

 exercise of civic and other hospitality. 

 Presidential Of the nature and functions of the Presidential 

 address this is perhaps neither the time nor the place 

 to speak ; but if I might for a moment forget the 

 purpose for which we are now assembled, I would 

 take the opportunity of reminding those who have not 

 attended many of our former meetings that our annual 

 volumes contain a long series of addresses on the 

 progress of Science, from a number of our most 

 eminent men, to which there is perhaps no parallel 

 elsewhere. These addresses are perhaps as remarkable 

 for their variety in mode of treatment as for the value 

 of their subject matter. Some of our Presidents, and 

 especially those who officiated in the earlier days of our 

 existence, have passed in review the various branches of 

 Science, and have noted the progress made in each 

 during the current year. But, as the various Sciences 

 have demanded more and more special treatment on the 

 part of those who seriously pursue them, so have the I 

 cases of individuals who can of their own knowledge give 

 anything approaching to a general review become more 

 and more rare. To this may be added the fact that 

 although no year is so barren as to fail in affording 

 sufficient crop for a strictly scientific budget, or for 

 a detailed report of progress in research, yet one year 



