Anniversary Address. 3 



of his observations, I am now confirmed in a belief which I 

 afterwards entertained, that all he said was true. At that 

 time, the society, I confess, had not any very pleasing or en- 

 couraging prospects — it numbered only a very few members — 

 and its meetings were held in a small room in the Assay 

 Office. It had also, at that time, a most formidable rival, 

 whilst but few of its own members interested themselves very 

 strenuously in its progress. Now, however, the two bodies 

 have become united, and I am rejoiced to say, that by union 

 strength has been produced. Gentlemen, let us compare the 

 numbers in this hall with those few men who sat in that 

 little room, and recall, for example, the paper on the Yan 

 Yean Water Works. I know of no subject more likely than 

 that to interest the uninitiated ; and, although the prophet 

 was in that instance at fault, he does not the less deserve our 

 thanks for the calm and philosophic way in which he pursued 

 his subject. He might have been wrong : but let these in- 

 stances operate as beacons for our future guidance. Compare 

 the subjects then brought under consideration with those 

 now discussed. Those most interesting to the more scientific 

 members may not be interesting to the general reader ; but 

 there are still some couched in simple language, which I my- 

 self can not only understand, but appreciate — most interest- 

 ing papers on scientific subjects, embracing geography, mine- 

 ralogy, physics, botany, and a number of others, which I 

 merely mention as those which are of interest to the general 

 reader. I regret, that in taking a hasty glance over the 

 transactions and occurrences of the last year, that I have to 

 allude to the loss of one — a loss, indeed, not only to the so- 

 ciety, but to the profession of which he was an ornament, and 

 to many friends with whom he was intimate, and by whom 

 he was greatly respected. Passing over that unfortunate 

 event, let me congratulate the Institute on the amount 



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