61 
Address to the Geological Society, delivered at the Anniversary, on 
the 15th of February, 1839, by the Rey. Wittiam Wuewe 1, 
B.D. F.R.S. President of the Society. 
GENTLEMEN, 
TueE Reports which have been read show that the Society is still 
in a state of progression as to numbers, although in consequence of 
some oversights in preceding periods, the comparison of this year’s 
statement with that of last year does not at first sight give an accu- 
rate view of our progress. 
I venture also to speak of our pecuniary condition as prosperous, 
although, in the Estimates for the present year the expenses exceed 
the income. ‘This excess admits of explanation: the estimated ex- 
penses include the cost of publishing a Part of our Transactions, 
and as this occurs only about once in two years, the whole expense 
ought not to be considered as belonging to one year. Stoves and 
other articles of furniture, expenses not likely to recur, have also 
inflamed the debtor side of our account. 
There is one considerable article in our estimated expenses, of 
which payment may not be required, but from which I confess I 
should be sorry to see the Society liberated. I speak of the salary 
of our Curator. In my address last year I stated that the Council 
had it in contemplation to make some arrangement by which Mr. 
Lonsdale’s labours, then far too heavy, should be lightened. This 
was done, I believe to the satisfaction of every one, by separating 
the office of Curator from that of Assistant Secretary, and to the former 
office Mr. Wood was appointed, with asalary of 125. The Council 
found in Mr. Wood’s zeal and knowledge every reason to congratulate 
themselves on the possession of such an officer; and have heard with 
regret that the state of his health compels him to resign his office. I 
trust, however, that the Council will be able to provide some means 
of rendering the Society’s Collection useful, without allowing Mr. 
Lonsdale to be again burthened with a complication of duties inju- 
rious to him and inconvenient to the Society. 
Although, as I have said, I look without any inquietude upon the 
state of our funds, it is impossible not to allow that such an aspect 
of them makes it necessary to attend to economy wherever it is 
