122 THE president's address. 



interest for a short address. In a county like this — so 

 exceptionally rich in objects of archseological interest — the mind 

 naturally turns in connection with this Institution to that most 

 bewitching of investigating lore, but, here, I regret to say, I 

 must plead gross ignorance, although I can feel the fullest 

 appreciation of its charms. 



I can fancy few things more fascinating than being able, in 

 a county like ours, to investigate and follow up the many signs 

 and remains of past ages, and we are indeed happy in having 

 amongst us so many gentlemen who have given their time and 

 abilities to deciphering our early history, both for their own 

 enjoyment and for the benefit of those amongst whom they live. 

 Their works and papers are a true pleasure to outsiders like 

 myself, who are unable to assist in their careful and extensive 

 investigations. 



But your Museum, besides its rich collection of archaeologi- 

 cal treasures, contains much else connected with the study of 

 natural sciences. Its collection of minerals, and that in 

 connection with the Geological Society at Penzance, are two of 

 the best I have ever seen in the provinces : Great care 

 appears to have been taken to carry out such an arrangement of 

 the specimens as shall best conduce to the study of mineralogy. 

 I am not aware whether it is a practice here, but I remember, 

 when I was studying at Freiberg in Saxony, the Eoyal collection 

 there used to be kept enriched with the finest and ne\vest speci- 

 mens, by the funds received from the selling of duplicates, and 

 this proved to be a continuous and important source of income. 



Now the prominent position which minerals occupy in your 

 Museum emboldens me to follow the example of my noble 

 predecessor in oifice, Lord Mount Edgcumbe, and to offer some 

 remarks on the metallic production of our county. I feel the 

 more encouraged to do this, as I believe it has been always the 

 object of this and kindred institutions of the county to promote and 

 encourage all investigations which may be of practical interest 

 and value to oixr great commercial communities. The noble lord 

 in his opening address last year, most ably dealt with the tin 

 production of the county, and by his figures shewed that we still 

 held a very leading position in the tin production of the world. 

 Of the 40'27l tons of metallic tin produced in 1882, Cornwall 



