196 THE AMEEICAN MONTHLY [September, 



Addresses of welcome are, I think, usually satisfactory in the inverse 

 proportion of their length, hence I will take up no more of your time, 

 and close, as I begun, by assuring you that we are all ver}^ glad to see 

 you here, and hope that you will make yourself entirely at home with 

 us. 



Dr. Thomas Taylor, president of the Washington Microscopical 

 Society, next made a short address of welcome, in which he told of the 

 growth of his own interest in the microscope, and what he had accom- 

 plished with the instrument. He also reviewed the interest being taken 

 in microscopic work by the Government, which was the first Govern- 

 ment to take any active steps in microscopical work. He described 

 the use and growth of the local society, and bade the members of the 

 American society a hearty welcome in the name of the society of which 

 he had the honor to be president. 



Dr. James made a brief reply, expressing the gratitude of the visiting 

 society for the hearty reception tendered. 



The report of the secretary was then read by Dr. W. H. Seaman. 

 He announced that the membership had reached 400, and that upward 

 of fifty new names would probably be added to the society's membership 

 as soon as the executive committee had a chance to meet and pass upon 

 them. He recommended that Wednesday evening be given up to a 

 meeting for the consideration of r(!»utine business. 



The reports of the committees on medico-legal microscopy, on the 

 Columbian Exposition, and also of the committee on the revision of the 

 constitution, were passed over to be presented at a future date. 



The question of incorporation v^as the next item of business on the 

 programme. Dr. Seaman and Dr. Reyburn spoke in favor of incorpo- 

 rating the society, the latter accenting the advantages that would ensue 

 from going through with the legal forms in the District, where the in- 

 corporation of all national societies should be made. Ex-President 

 Lewis also favored the proposition, and, on motion of Mr. C. C. Mellor, 

 it was decided that the president should appoint a committee of three to 

 take entire charge of the matter. Dr. James appointed as this commit- 

 tee Dr. Robert Reyburn, Mr. J. M. Yznaga, and Dr. Wm. J. Lewis. 



Tuesday Afternoon. 



In the afternoon the microscopists went in a body to the United States 

 Geological Survey. A thorough examination of the work of this de- 

 partment was made. 



Tuesday Evening. 



The evening session was very brief, and consisted only in the reading 

 of the presidential address by Dr. F. L. James on "The Microsope 

 in the Investigation of Scorches and Burns on Textile Fabrics." 

 Dr. James started out with an interesting story of his own experience, 

 in which the microscope, in an indirect manner, finally proved to be 

 the agent in saving a human life, and establishing the innocence of one 

 unjustly accused of being the murderer of his voung wife. (This paper 

 will be published in full in the Journal 'iox October). 



Wednesday Morning. 



There were between fifty and sixty persons present at the morning 

 session. 



