§^o^kI ^otxtiy^ d ^idmn. 



ANNIVERSAEY ADDRESS 



OF 



Me. K. L. J. ELLERY, F.R.A.S., Government Astronomer. 



[Delivered to the Members of the Eoyal Society, at their Annual 

 Conversazione, held on July 8, 1872.] 



Gentlemen of the Royal Society, 



We have now entered upon our fifteenth session, and as 

 you have done me the great honour to again choose me as 

 your president, it devolves on me, in accordance with our 

 rules, to address you on the past year's history and progress 

 of the Society ; and also to call your attention to some of the 

 more noteworthy facts which mark the last year's history 

 of general scientific progress. First, then, in reference to 

 our own business, I regret to have once more to inform you 

 that, since the last publication of the Transactions of the 

 Society, the funds have not been in a sufficiently flourishing 

 condition to enable the council to resume the printing. For 

 many years past the only revenue of the Society has been 

 that derived from entrance-fees and subscriptions of mem- 

 bers. From this, not only the current expenses but the 

 interest on money borrowed for carrying out the alterations 

 and additions to our buildings have to be paid ; and although 

 our income will amply meet these demands if the annual 

 subscriptions of members are regularly paid, there has 



