ANNITERSAET ADDRESS OP THE PRESrOENT. 

 AWAED OE THE "WOLLASTON DoNATION-EUND. 



The President then addressed Mr. Salter, as follows : — 



Mr. Salter, — In handing to you these proceeds of the Wollas- 

 ton Fund, which have been awarded to you by the Council, I 

 cannot refrain from expressing to you the satisfaction I expe- 

 rience at seeing your efforts in a very interesting and important 

 field of palseontological investigation thus recognized. You have 

 laboured for many years at the hard task of unravelling the mys- 

 teries of Palaeozoic fossils, and besides carrying out your own in- 

 vestigations, have ever been willing to assist your fellow-labourers 

 in this field of research with the free use and communication of 

 the knowledge you have acquired. When, moreover, we look at 

 the work you have done for the Paleeontographical Society, and 

 the manner in which you have executed it, we cannot but look 

 forward vsdth anxiety to the early completion of J^ur Monograph 

 on the British Palaeozoic Trilobites ; and when I recollect the 

 expression of Dr. "Wollaston which accompanied his bequest, I 

 feel convinced that there is no worthier mode of complying 

 with the spirit of his intention than by awards like the present, 

 which, while recognizing the merit of work already done, are in- 

 tended to assist the prosecution of further researches. 



Trusting that the time may speedily arrive when you wiU have 

 completed your present work, and when you will be enabled to 

 apply your energies to new paths in the great field of Palaeozoic 

 Palaeontology, I have now the pleasure of handing to you this 

 award, with the expression of my best wishes for your future 

 success. 



Mr. Salter replied in the following manner : — 



Sir, — It is pleasant to receive a purse full of money at all 

 times, and especially so when it is given for work that is done, 

 as well as for that we are going to do. 



I think the palaeontologists have been for some time receiving 

 the lion's share of "WoUaston's bequest. It can hardly be that in 

 future years there will not be a reaction in favour of the physical 

 and mineralogical studies to which "Wollaston .devoted his life, 

 and therefore we must make hay while the sun shines. 



I cannot forget, Sir, that nearly twenty years ago it was the 

 liberal construction put by the Council upon the use to which a 

 surplus fund should be applied, which was the chief means of 

 introducing me to the Society. And I have spent so many pro- 

 fitable hours here, that I should be ungrateful indeed to forget 

 this circumstance, or the men (now, alas ! not with us) who pro- 

 posed this kindness for a very young naturalist. 



I must not detain you further. My family of Trilobites is a 

 large one, and requires much attention, and therefore I am grate- 

 ful for this help. I beg to thank you very heartily for the honour 

 you have done me. 



