for the year 1876. 



Museum as complete as those in which we have akeady 

 enshrined our art and literature. For at least six months 

 therefore we shall not only be as rich in this respect as 

 France, Germany, Italy, Holland, and Switzerland, but far 

 richer, since those nations, with an enthusiasm and goodwill 

 which command our universal gratitude, have spoiled their 

 ancient treasure-houses, their laboratories, and private col- 

 lections, in order that science may be worthily represented 

 among us now that our Government has consented to pro- 

 vide a home, however temporary, for her." 



In conclusion, I would return for a few moments to the 

 immediate affairs of our Society. 



I have already referred to the smallness of attendance at 

 some of our ordinary meetings, and to certain propositions 

 for the improvement of the working of the Society. I 

 would, however, exhort our scientific and literary members, 

 and more especially our younger ones, to renewed activity. 

 It cannot be supposed in a small community like ours that 

 enough scientific workers in original investigations can be 

 found to keep this Society in active operation with entirely 

 new matter ; but if our legitimate functions be fully exer- 

 cised I can see no reason why we should not have busy 

 sessions and full meetings. The fields of investigation are 

 only too numerous ; the further we advance in knowledge 

 the wider they become ; the more science contributes to the 

 welfare, convenience, or luxury of the communitj^, the more 

 is demanded of it. So our young scientists have no lack of 

 scope for their inquiries. 



It should be clearly understood that accounts and results 

 of experiments, the discovery or improvement of mechanical 

 appliances, suggestions of new modes of investigation or 

 observation, simple observations in natural history, astronomy, 

 chemistry, physiology, medicine, or surgery, besides matters 

 pertaining to the advancement of literature and art, all 

 come within the proper province of this Society. 



