10 SPRING MEETING. 



Mr. Williams said it was a satisfaction to be able to 

 announce that the Institution was still pursuing a useful and 

 prosperous career, and that the interest in the Society had been 

 fully maintained since the last meeting. It was his first duty to 

 allude to the death of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, whose 

 beneficent reign will go down to posterity as the most glorious in 

 the annals of these realms. She had been well described as 

 " The soul of honour and of honest dealings." This Society was 

 honoured by Her Majesty's patronage throughout her long 

 reign. It was with much satisfaction that he was able to announce 

 that day that His Majesty King Edward VII had graciously 

 signified his willingness to take the place of Her late Majesty as 

 Patron of this Institution. It was pleasing to remember that the 

 Sovereigns of this realm have been Patrons of this Society since 

 its establishment in 1818. The Society had further to regret 

 the loss, by death, of one of the most notable of Cornishmen, 

 and a patron of the Institution, m Mr. John Tremayne. Cornwall 

 was a community which felt, perhaps, in a greater degree than 

 any other in these islands the loss of such a personality. Their 

 county was in some respects nothing more than an island attached 

 to the mainland by Saltash Bridge. Consequently, their people 

 were thrown more on each other and on their own resources than 

 those of any similar piece of ground within these islands. The 

 passing away of a man like Mr. Tremayne must necessarily be 

 severely felt. Such natural abilities, combined with such steady 

 training, and readiness to place them at the disposal of the public, 

 came seldom to any community, and one almost despaired, when a 

 man like Mr. Tremayne passed away, that his place would be filled 

 again by anyone in their lifetime. There could scarcely be a 

 person in that room who had not noticed, and with miich regret, 

 the absence of the Rev. W. lago from the meeting. The 

 President was sure everyone present deeply sympathised with 

 him in his recent afflictions, and was glad to read a letter written 

 by him the evening before, to Major Parkyn, in which he 

 hopefully anticipated being present on a future occasion. Death 

 had also taken from them Mr. Gregg, who for upwards of 

 seven years acted as curator and librarian to the Society. Mr. 

 Gregg came as a perfect stranger to the city, but soon made a 

 multitude of friends. He was a devoted officer of the Society, 



