THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 307 



This ancient inscribed stone had been evidently, for a long 

 period, doing duty as the lich-stone upon the central block of 

 masonry used for the support of coffins at the eastern entrance 

 of the churchyard. Undoubtedly, it is the greatest archaeological 

 discovery of recent years in Cornwall. 



The Institution still continues to be indebted to the press of 

 the two western counties for the excellent and full reports of its 

 meetings, and for occasional notices of its progress. 



The responsibility laid upon the Council by the bequest of 

 our former President, Mr. W. Jory Henwood, F.R.S., is an im- 

 portant one, requiring great care and attention, in order that the 

 triennial awards of the medal may be really reflective of the 

 value of the researches considered worthy of acknowledgment. 

 It appears to me that the general custom of awarding medals by 

 our principal scientific societies, has afforded a graceful means 

 of recognising the merits of original research, when carried on 

 from a pure desire for the advancement of science. It is my 

 sincere conviction, after having frequently taken part in making 

 such awards, that not only the recipient of the medal has been 

 honoured, but that also, in most cases, the reputation of the 

 Society has been raised in the estimation of the general scientific 

 world, both at home and abroad. In our own case, the success, 

 or otherwise, of this new departure will depend chiefly on the 

 authors themselves, who should never forget that the main object 

 of the medal is to encourage the study of local science, as well 

 as to create the personal distinction of Henwood medallist. I 

 am glad to learn that the prospect of an early award has 

 awakened a great interest amongst the literati of the county, and 

 those interested in the question, the effects of which are seen in 

 the production of a series of papers relating to Cornwall, which, 

 probably, has never been excelled. 



Volume ix of the Journal was completed during last year 

 by the issue of Part rv. The members may be congratulated on 

 the many interesting papers contained in the volume on various 

 subjects, but more particularly on the mediaeval history, antiqui- 

 ties, geology, and ancient topography of the county. Some of 

 the communications show evidence of being the results of much 

 patient research, and they throw considerable light on various 



