4 Annual Meeting. 



ending 30th April, 1904, had been closed with a balance on hand 

 of £*$ 3S- 3d- 



Mr. John Ward, in moving the adoption of the Report and 

 Statement of Accounts, said that on his recent visit to Egypt he 

 was requested by Professor Maspero to obtain photographs of any 

 existing portraits of the late Dr. Edward Hincks, the great 

 Egyptologist, in order that a distinguished sculptor might be 

 employed to make a bronze bust which would be erected along 

 with those of Mariette and Champollion in the Museum at Cairo. 

 Professor Maspero said that as Hincks was one of the pioneers of 

 the knowledge of Egyptology he considered it right that his bust 

 should be enshrined in the greatest Egyptian museum in the 

 world. As Dr. Hincks was one of the founders of that Society, 

 and as their Museum was full of his works, especially the translation 

 of the inscriptions upon the Egyptian mummy, he (Mr. Ward) 

 thought this information must be very interesting to his admirers 

 in his native town. 



The President of Queen's College, who seconded, said it seemed 

 to him it was very important that Belfast should have a society 

 like that, for it provided for men who were engaged in different 

 pursuits in natural history, philosophy, and other departments of 

 science, an excellent medium for the promulgation and discussion 

 of their views. The Society had now been in existence for a great 

 many years, and had had connected with it not a few distinguished 

 men. The reports laid before them that day show that, although 

 it was getting older it was still bringing forth fruit in its old age. 

 Indeed the proceedings of last session could scarcely have been 

 other than successful. On the bridge of the vessel they had a 

 most excellent commander in Professor Symington, and in the 

 Secretary they had a most experienced and capable man at the 

 wheel. They all lamented that day that they had lost by death 

 so many old and respected members. Their removal had been 

 referred to from time to time at the winter meetings ; but he 

 thought they ought again that day to pay another passing tribute 

 to their memory. They would not see their familiar faces again, 



