years. Three during the year have been removed by death, viz. : 

 W. Bateman, Esq., and Messrs. May and Jarvis. During the past 

 few weeks, however, of the present year we have also lost the Rev. 

 E. Heel. 



I have laid the Balance Sheet for the year on the table ; it shows 

 a balance in hand of £15 7s. lOd. The smallness of the sub- 

 scriptioils is owing to the fact that only one half of them have 

 been paid in as yet. 



During the year we have had six meetings, viz. : — 

 Jan. The Annual Meeting when the President gave his usual 



resume of the progress of Science during the year. 

 Feb. When a very interesting paper by II. F. Rutt, Esq., 



" On Tails," was read by the Secretary. 

 Apeil When the President read a paper on Germs. 



The March meeting could not be held in consequence of 

 continuous snowstorms. 

 May Combined meeting with the Microscopical Society. 

 Oct. Paper by Mr. Kerr on the '' Hessian Ply." 

 Nov. Paper by the Secretary on The Natural Order Solanaceae. 



All these meetings have been very poorly attended, and have 

 greatly disappointed those who liad to prepare papers for them. 



In consequence of a widely spread wish among the members of 

 our Society and the Microscopical Society, meetings of the com- 

 mittees have been held, and arrangements have been made for the 

 amalgamation of the two under the title of the " Folkestone 

 Natural History and Microscopical Society," under conditions 

 presently to be read to you, and to which your sanction will be 

 asked. It will be an advantage to botb Societies and will allow 

 perhaps a little greater variety in our arrangements. 



The President, Dr. FitzGerald, then read the following paper on 



THE PROGRESS OF ASTRONOMY DURING THE 

 LAST FEW YEARS. 



In reviewing the events of the past year, no brilliant invention, 

 no absolutely novel discovery can be recorded. Our scientific 

 workers have been as diligent as ever, and as regards the quality and 

 thoroughness of their work, each year doubtless shows some 

 advance. Still, the year 1891 will be memorable for noue of those 

 startling inventions, which from time to time, have electrified the 

 whole civilised world. The progress of science, though sure and 

 irresistible as the advance of the in-coming tide, is perhaps better 

 estimated by comparing present results with those of fifty, or even 

 five-and twenty years ago, than by reviewing the events of any 

 given year. More especially is this the case, if we turn to the 

 grand science of astronomy. There is, to my mind, no other 



