Iftogal JEitstitutton of (STorntoall. 



SPEING MEETING, Mat 22nd, 1890. 



ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT, 



EDWIN DUNKIN, F.R.S. 

 Past-Peesident om the Royal Asteonomicai, Society. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, — When in my early youth, in the 

 year 1832, I left Truro for London, I could hardly have 

 anticipated that, more than half a century afterwards, I should 

 have the honour of occupying the chair of this old established 

 scientific institution, of which I have the most pleasing remem- 

 brances, since the time when I passed its walls daily on my way 

 to and from school. I cannot, therefore, refrain from expressing 

 my thanks to you all for the great compliment you have 

 paid me, particularly when I consider that my connection with 

 science has been exclusively devoted to an abstruse branch of 

 astronomy, which has not usually been one of the subjects 

 discussed at the ordinary meetings of this Institution. However, 

 I can assure you that it is indeed a great pleasure to me to be 

 here as your President, and my only regret is that, owing to 

 my residence in London, and other unavoidable circumstances, 

 I shall not be able to be with you so frequently as I should 

 wish. 



I find that at the Spring Meeting the President has generally 

 the melancholy duty of paying a passing tribute to those of our 

 members whose loss to the Institution we have to deplore through 

 death. Although the number of members who have died 

 during the past year is not numerous, they are those who have 

 been for many years connected with the Institution, and who 

 have ever been ready to assist it.* 



*My best thanks are due to my friend Major Parkyn, F.G.S., for his kind 

 assistance in this portion of my address. 



