4 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



these elements are retained and made use of. As regards 

 its membership, the Society is now in a very flourishing 

 state. The Ordinary Fellows number 250, the Correspond- 

 ing 17, and the Honorary Fellows 22, making a total of 

 289. 



The Treasurer's report will have shown you that the funds 

 of the Society are in a very satisfactory condition, much 

 more so, indeed, than has been the case for several years 

 previously. As is known to most of you, the Society, two 

 or three years ago, was considerably in debt, but through the 

 efforts of Dr Traquair during his Secretaryship, and of our 

 Honorary Treasurer, Mr George Lisle, not only has this 

 debt been cleared off, but the part of the Proceedings for 

 1886-87 has been paid for, the cost of removal of the library 

 of the Society to the new premises has been defrayed, and 

 the Society now possesses a substantial balance at its credit 

 in the bank. We owe our thanks to the Secretary and the 

 Treasurer for their exertions in this matter, and for placing 

 the Society in so satisfactory a financial position. The 

 Society has sustained a loss during the year, which I feel 

 that I ought to refer to, in the resignation, by Mr W. E. 

 Hoyle, of his post of Librarian. To the work of the library 

 Mr Hoyle gave much thought and time. His extensive 

 bibliographical knowledge was always at the service of the 

 Society. He managed the exchanges with other societies, 

 and the present condition of the library owes much to his 

 faithful services. 



In resigning this chair to my successor, Dr Traquair, 1 

 would congratulate the Society upon having secured as its 

 President one who for so many years has so closely identified 

 himself with its work, and who, during his recent tenure of 

 office as Secretary, has contributed so much to its usefulness 

 and prosperity. 



