THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. » 



Dean Jeremie when lie did not know how to please a sensitive 

 scholar, delicately begged to be allowed to bind handsomely all 

 the books he loved best. Cases and bindings would be a bright, 

 happy, not very costly contribution to our rooms. And then 

 again, for more solid uses, a little more ready money is wanted 

 for specimens necessary to completeness, a little more for the 

 publication of materials of considerable value now in our hands. 



The Schedules which we issued to obtain particulars of 

 churches, have many of them been dispersed. Not many have 

 returned. It is well they were not sown broadcast, for the in- 

 experienced eye images any one church as possibly involving 

 all the particulars (which is far indeed from the case), and is 

 scared at apparent complexity. But to real archaeologists like 

 Mr. Whitley, Mr. H. Eandolph, Col. Cocks, and (I trust) Mr. 

 lago, who have kindly undertaken portions of the work, they wear 

 though not an otiose, yet a manageable aspect. Such sheets, will 

 be permanent descriptive photographs of every church, and are 

 the only possible basis for true theories of architectural history. 



The Tuesday Evenings will, I hope, be reported on by some 

 whose engagements have permitted that enjoyment. For that 

 they have been enjoyable, as well as useful, I have heard from 

 several visitors, and I would that the practical pleasantness of 

 the idea could be worked out into a revival of some of the 

 literary and scientific coteries of our grandfathers. Yet all such 

 thoughts must, after all, be the garniture and gilt binding of 

 the substance of our Institution's work. These are days in 

 which the old otium cum dignitate of literary leisure has been 

 transformed into the negotium importunum of toilsome production. 



" neque enim robustior setas 

 ulla, neque uberior, nee quae magis Eestuet ulla est." 



The industries of capital, and the organization of education, 

 ask whether letters and science can contribute to their develop- 

 ment, or will sit on their school committees. If not they will 

 kindly recommend us to 



The hairy gown and mossy cell 

 Where we may sit and rightly spell 

 Of what we please to play with. 



But we answer with a half-sigh that they can and will 

 work hard for working day uses. We beg for leave and 



