3© Annual Meeting. 



Council presented a loyal address from the Society on loth July, 

 which was graciously acknowledged." 



Mr. John Horner (hon. treasurer) reported that they began 

 the year with a debit balance of ;^76 155 8d, but this had now 

 been reduced to ^7 4s gd. 



The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and 

 statement of accounts, said they showed that the Belfast Natural 

 History and Philosophical Society was now, as in the past, dis- 

 charging a most useful function in Belfast. They had unfor- 

 tunately to deplore the loss by death of three members — Mr. John 

 Carson, who for many years was a regular attendant at their 

 meetings ; Mr. Alexander MacLaine, who for long occupied an 

 important place in the industrial life of the city ; and Mr. Richard 

 Patterson, an honoured citizen of Belfast, who was one of a 

 remarkable Ulster family which had taken a most praiseworthy 

 share in maintaining the reputation of the North of Ireland in 

 such diverse subjects as art, science, philology, antiquities, and 

 folk-lore. Mr. Robert Patterson, F.R.S., the author of "Zoology 

 for Schools," was one of those distinguished men who in 1821 

 founded the Natural History and Philosophical Society, and both 

 he himself and two of his sons. Sir Robert L. Patterson, F.L.S., 

 and Mr. W. H. Patterson, M.RT.A., were presidents, and now 

 his grandson, Mr. Robert Patterson, F.L.S. (son of the late Mr, 

 Richard Patterson), a man of the keenest scientific instincts, as 

 his weekly " Nature Notes and Queries " showed, was about to 

 continue the hereditary connection of the family with the Society 

 by becoming their new hon. secretary. He (the Chairman) 

 would like to draw special attention to the very full and perfect 

 way in which the various collections conveyed by deed of gift to 

 the Belfast Corporation last year were being catalogued by Mr. J. 

 A. S. Stendall, assistant curator of the Public Museum and Art 

 Gallery. After thanking the members of the Belfast Press for the 

 manner in which they had reported their meetings, the Chairman 

 said the Society was deeply indebted to Mr. R. M. Young, their 

 very efficient hon. secretary, and to Mr. John Horner, their able 



