98 THE president's address^ 



library and the museum, the increased attendance at the raeetings^ 

 and the character of the papers communicated thereat, are all justly- 

 set forth as legitimate subjects of congratulation. 



In reference to the papers communicated, we arc well reminded, 

 by the Committee editing the Journal, that the contribution of mate- 

 rials for its pages, from the members of the Society generally, is 

 indispensable to its permanent success. We have no right to ex- 

 pect that the burden of supplying the requisite matter should be 

 cast upon a small minority of those who ought to constitute the 

 working members of the Institute. Of the value of the services 

 rendered by those whose exertions have given to the Journal of the 

 Institute its present character and reputation, we cannot speak or 

 think too highly. It would be, on the part of those who are com- 

 petent-^and I will not doubt but that, among our 600 members, 

 there are many competent, — a just mode of shewing that they fitly 

 appreciate these labours, by sharing, and so lightening them. In 

 adding to the record of facts and phenomena observed, there are few 

 who could not render their quota of assistance ; and such a record 

 becomes a treasury of knowledge for philosophic investigation, for 

 elucidating truths already known, or the discovery of others yet 

 hidden from us. 



I should be wanting, alike to the Council and to the Institute, if 

 I did not especially call attention to the success of the Journal, so 

 justly attributed, in the Annual Report of the Council, to the 

 ability and judgement of its conductors. It is no slight proof of 

 the value of such a publication, and of the character of those 

 papers which have become known through its pages, that several of 

 them have been deemed worthy of republication in some of the leading 

 scientific journals of Europe ; while in return for copies of the Journal 

 transmitted to difierent societies and learned bodies in other parts of 

 the world, the Institute has already received their printed proceedings, 

 together with other publications of great value. Everything tends 

 to shew the reputation and standing which, through the Journal, 

 this Institute is attaining ; and strengthens the claim to our sincere 

 and warmest thanks, which the Editor, and the Committee who have 

 been his coadjutors, have so amply established. 



I must not leave the subject of our own proceedings as an Insti- 

 tute, however, without adverting to the fact — within all your recol- 

 ections, — that at one of the ordinary meetings last year, a tribute 

 of profound respect and regard, mingled with unfeigned sorrow for 

 his ^melancholy death, was paid to the memory of the late Hugh 



