x President's Address 



was fitted out under the auspices of this Society, and was 

 accompanied by many of our members, who had ample 

 opportunity of estimating the qualities of Commander 

 Oowlland as a navigator, a commander, or a friend ; anal I 

 believe I but echo the opinion of all who went on that 

 expedition when I say that he won the esteem and confi- 

 dence of all, and the lasting friendship of a great many. I 

 feel assured, gentlemen, that you share with me the most 

 sincere regret at the untimely loss of one who volunteered 

 his gratuitous services to help us in a scientific undertaking, 

 and performed them so efficiently, genially, and well. 



The great event of our past year's history is the comple- 

 tion of the publication of our Transactions to the end of 

 1872. In February last the 10th volume, containing the 

 results of the Society's work from August 1869 to the end 

 of 1872 was issued. This, for many reasons, is a matter for 

 congratulation. Our Society has been in the regular receipt 

 of the publications of kindred Societies abroad, yet for 

 several years past we have been unable to reciprocate. The 

 new volume has now, however, been distributed to all 

 foreign Societies and Institutions with whom we have inter- 

 changes, and we have thus in some small degree diminished 

 this debt, and given proof to our brother workers in other 

 parts of the world that our Society has not been asleep. 



The income proper of the Society has not been found 

 sufficient to cover the working expenses, interest on the 

 building, and printing the Transactions as well, and our 

 ability to publish must yet depend upon the continuance of 

 the small annual vote from the State funds which the 

 Government has again most liberally granted to us for the 

 last three years. The Transactions of Session 1873 are not 

 yet printed, but it is intended to proceed with the work at 

 ones, so as to issue the volume before the close of the 

 year. 



