ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 



HELD AT THE HOUSE OF THE SOCIETY OF ARTS, 



MONDAY, JULY 16, 1900. 



The President, 

 Sir George Gabriel Stokes, Bart., LL.D,, Sc.D., F.R.S., 

 IN THE Chair. 



The President. — Ladies aud g-eutlemen, I am sure we all very 

 much regret the absence of one face here with which we are 

 familiar — viz., that of our indefatigable Hon. Secretary, Captain 

 Petrie. I am sorry to say he is ill, and it would have been 

 madness for him to have attempted to be present on this occasion. 

 I got, when I came here, a letter from Mrs. Peti-ie in which she 

 stated that he wished me to apologise to the meeting for his 

 absence. I think none of us can fail to be struck with the 

 extreme care Avith which he has attended to all the business of the 

 Institute, and we all deeply regret that he is not able to be witii 

 U3 to-day. I believe I may say that this is the first anniversary 

 which he has missed. 



Letters expressing regret at their inability to be present have 

 been received from Lord Lichfield, the Bishop of Wakefield, the 

 Dean of Llandaff, Archdeacon Sinclair and others, to which I may 

 add one that I received myself, before I left Cambi^idge, from 

 Lord Kelvin. I had hoped that he might have been able to be 

 present at this meeting, but he is obliged to go to Edinburgh. 



Captain Pefcrie used to read out extracts from the Annual 

 Report. In his absence I will read a few passages. 



Progress of the Institute. 



1. In presentiDg the Thirty-Fourth Annual Eeport, the 

 Comicil is glad to be able to state that the position of the 

 Victoria Institute has been maintained, although somewhat 

 affected by those adverse influences which are now felt by 

 nearly every interest and society. 



2. The Institute has been greatly aided in its Avork by 

 an increase in the number of those in the highest walks of 

 science who cordially co-operate with it, and also by the 

 help accorded by the Members and Associates both at 

 home and abroad. Without their steady support not only 

 would all progress become arrested, but much ground 

 already gained would be lost. 



B 



