REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 
April 29, 1862. 
Berore commencing the ordinary topics of their Thirty- 
third Annual Report, which, in accordance with the pro- 
visions of the Charter, they have the pleasure of submitting 
to the Society this day, the Council feel called upon to 
allude to the loss that the Society has suffered since the 
last Anniversary in the death of their late President, His 
Royal Highness The Prince Consort. 
An address of condolence and sympathy having been 
already presented to Her Majesty the Queen, fully ex- 
pressing the sentiments of the Society upon this occasion, 
the Council feel that they need not now enlarge upon this 
mournful topic, further than to remind the Society of the 
great and undeviating interest ever exhibited by their late 
President in the objects which this Society have most at 
heart, and of the many valuable donations which His Royal 
Highness’s patronage was the means of conferring upon 
them. 
In selecting a successor for the residue of the year to the 
Office thus left vacant, which was the course prescribed to 
them by the Charter, the Council felt that the great services 
which the Right Hon. Sir George Clerk had rendered to 
the Society during the many years he had occupied a place 
amongst them, and the numerous occasions in which he 
has acted as one of their Vice-Presidents, not to allude to 
his numerous other qualifications, rendered him in every 
respect fitted to occupy the Presidential Chair ; and they 
trust that the Society, by the unanimity of their votes this 
day, will show that they fully agree in the choice that the 
Council have thus made, and are prepared to continue their 
President in the office for which the Council have selected 
him. : 
A 2 
