1888-89.] *43 



of the members, and that was to assist in presenting an address 

 and portrait to their outgoing President. He would now call 

 on Mr. W. Swanston, Senior Secretary. 



Mr. Swanston then read the address, after which Mr. Robin- 

 son read his reply, which, with the address, will be found below. 



The portrait was unveiled, amid applause, by Mr. John 

 Anderson, J. P., F.G.S., one of the original members of the 

 Club, who spoke of his early acquaintance with Mr. Robinson, 

 and his high appreciation of his scientific attainments and 

 sterling qualities, and also testified to the great pleasure which 

 it gave him to be the medium of presenting to Mr. Robinson, 

 on behalf of his fellow-members of the Naturalists' Field Club, 

 that well deserved mark of esteem. He expressed the hope 

 that Mr. Robinson might be long spared to favour the Club 

 with the benefit of his experience and counsel. 



The portrait, which was executed by Mr. Ernest Taylor, 

 of Belfast, was an admirable likeness, and the address was 

 illuminated in most artistic style by Messrs. Marcus Ward & Co. 



Some formal business having been transacted, the pro- 

 ceedings concluded. 



ADDRESS TO HUGH ROBINSON, ES£., M.R.I.A. 



Dear Sir, — The close of your term of office as President of the Belfast Naturalists' 

 Field Club marks, in the opinion of your fellow-members, a time in your connection 

 with it which it would be ungrateful on their part to allow to pass without recognition. 



Twenty-six years have now elapsed since you met in consultation with four others 

 imbued like yourself with an unaffected love of nature, and a desire to study with 

 scientific method, and as nature can only be really studied — in the field. The out- 

 come of this meeting was the establishment of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, a 

 society organised mainly for the purpose of promoting a better knowledge of the flora 

 and fauna and antiquities of the country. Since 1863 these objects have never been 

 overlooked, and no year has elapsed without some marked advance in this direction. 



During all this period you have been officially connected with the Club, and we 

 feel that much of its success may be attributed to your zeal for its interests. In 1869 

 you were chosen to be one of its Honorary Secretaries, which position you held till 

 1880. Largely owing to your untiring energy in this capacity, accompanied by organising 

 powers of a high order, the Club was established on a firm basis, and became the 



