2 President's Address. [Oct, 28, 



The names of the benefactors of the Society were recited by 

 the Secretary. 



On the motion of the President, seconded by the Treasurer, 

 it was resolved : — That during the ensuing session the meeting of 

 the Council of the Society be fixed for 4 o'clock in the afternoon; 

 that the meeting of the Society be fixed for 4.30, when tea will 

 be provided, and that the formal business of the meeting be taken 

 at 5 o'clock. 



The President delivered the following address : 



I rise, according to custom, to say a few words at what would, 

 under ordinary circumstances, be the close of my first year 

 of office as your President. It happened, however, that in con- 

 sequence of the lamented death of Mr Coutts Trotter I was 

 elected on Monday, 30 January, 1888, instead of at the usual time 

 in November. I have therefore had the honour of holding the 

 office for a year and nine months. 



During that period the Society has pursued the even tenour 

 of its way, undisturbed by revolutions or dissensions, but at the 

 same time giving signs of vigorous and healthy life. It is evident 

 that we can no longer expect that a majority of those elected to 

 College Fellowships in this University will seek the further dis- 

 tinction of our Fellowship, almost as a matter of course, as they 

 used to do; but it may still be a subject of congratulation that 

 our annual recruits make up in quality for defects in quantity; 

 and, if I am not too sanguine, I think that the ancient popularity 

 of our Society may, at any rate to some extent, be revived. 



Our meetings have been well attended; but it seems to me 

 that it might be possible to render them still more attractive, and 

 so to make them fortnightly gatherings of those who, being in- 

 terested in scientific pursuits, are anxious to meet persons of 

 tastes similar to their own. - With this object in view a proposal 

 will be submitted to you for changing the hour of meeting. You 

 remember that in 1881-82 the hour was changed from eight in 

 the evening to three in the afternoon. That change was received 

 with approbation; but since then it has been represented to the 

 Council that a further change to a somewhat later hour in the 

 afternoon would now be more convenient. It is now, therefore, 

 proposed to meet at half-past four; and further, to offer, before 

 the meeting, that refreshment which, in all circles, whether rich 

 or poor — scientific, literary, or social — offers a resting-place be- 

 tween lunch and dinner — or between dinner and supper — namely, 

 tea. It was remarked long ago that " great events from little 

 causes spring;" so let us hope that this innocent beverage, which 

 has not, as yet, fallen under the ban of any school of reformers, 



