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ANNIVEESARY ADDEESS 



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Mb. R. L. J. Ellery, RR.S., F.R.A.S., Government 

 Astronomer. 



(Delivered to the Members of tlie Royal Society, at their Annual 

 Conversazione, held on Thursday, July 26th, 1877.) 



Your Excellency and Gentlemen of the 

 Royal Society, 



Since I had the honour of addressing you at the annual 

 Conversazione in August last year, we have entered upon our 

 twentieth session, and I think I may at the outset congra- 

 tulate you on the past year's work, and the present aspect of 

 the affairs of the Society, concerning which, however, accord- 

 ing to ordinary custom, I shall speak more in detail presently. 



The numerical strength of the Royal Society fluctuates 



very little from year to year. For a long time our losses by 



removal and secession equalled and sometimes exceeded our 



gain by new members ; but during the last few years our 



roll shows unmistakable signs of a small but steady increase, 



which includes the names of many of the most intelligent 



and scientifically industrious young men of our community^ 



all of whom will no doubt eventually become, as many have 



abeady, active members and regular contributors to our 



Transactions. 



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