1867-68 E. W. Cooke, R.A.; Col. W. J. Smytbe 397 



his leisure hours in constructing models of new types of 

 animals by joining the parts of one to the trunk of another 

 of totally different grade and aspect. By working with 

 shells, Crustacea and other forms having hard parts he 

 formed a strange collection of ludicrous monstrosities. 

 Whether it was owing to the fidelity with which he repro- 

 duced nature on his canvas, to the humour and skill of his 

 creations of impossible creatures, or to the charm of his 

 society was not publicly divulged by the Fellows of the 

 Royal Society when on June 4th 1863 they elected him a 

 Fellow. 



Colonel William James Smythe, an officer of Royal 

 Artillery, took part in the Kaffir war of 1835, and after years 

 of various service was sent in 1859 to Fiji in order to report 

 to the British government whether it was desirable to accept 

 the offer of the islands by King Thakombau and chiefs. 

 His wife accompanied him, and in 1864 they published their 

 experiences in a volume entitled " Ten months in Fiji 

 Islands." Colonel Smythe in his official report recommended 

 that the offer should be declined and in 1862 the Govern- 

 ment took his advice. Other counsels, however, ultimately 

 prevailed and the islands were finally annexed to the British 

 crown in 1874. He became F.R.S. in 1864. 



1868. The Anniversary Meeting of 1868 took place on 

 June 25th, was attended by twenty-eight members and was 

 presided over by General Sabine. The Treasurers reported 

 that the expenditure since the last Anniversary amounted 

 to 102 8s. and that they had in hand a balance of 13 os. 8d. 

 The subscription for the following year was fixed at 2 2s. 

 The number of dinners during the past year was 22, attended 

 by 307 persons, of whom 62 were visitors, being an average 

 of 14 at each dinner. It was resolved that this year 

 dinners during the vacation should be provided on 23rd 

 July, 3rd September, and 22nd October. 



The President proposed and the Club unanimously agreed 

 that all members of the Club who attain the age of eighty 

 should be made Honorary Members of the Club. In 

 accordance with this resolution John Dickinson, Sir 



