Annual Meeting. 43 



Society, he deeply regretted the fact that they would see his face 

 no more. Everyone who knew him as a friend not only valued 

 but loved him, and every Belfastman also knew and rejoiced that 

 the old and honoured name of Robert Patterson gained increased 

 honour in his person. It was not necessary for him to tell them 

 that Sir Robert was one of their foremost ornithologists, or how 

 well he carried on the old traditions which were associated so long 

 with the name of William Thompson, and which had shed such 

 lustre not merely on their Society, but on the whole North of 

 Ireland. He trusted that the loss of such eminent members might 

 stir up others to come forward and take their place in maintaining 

 the interests of a body with which were so intimately bound up the 

 interests of science in their city. 



Mr. John Smith seconded the adoption of the Report, which 

 was agreed to unanimously. 



Mr. William Gray moved the re-election of the retiring members 

 of Council — President Hamilton, Sir Otto Jaffe, Professor 

 Symington, Mr. Nevin H. Foster, and Mr. R. M. Young. He 

 (Mr. Gray) believed that the question of the amalgamation of the 

 museums must come before the public in a very short time, and 

 in his opinion the time had arrived when it would be judicious for 

 the public to take steps in that direction with a view to the Society's 

 collections becoming part and parcel of the municipal museum. 

 Overtures, however, in connection with such an arrangement ought 

 to come from the public, not from the Society. 



Mr. A. H. Muir seconded the motion, which was passed. 



On the motion of Dr. Calwell, seconded by Mr. H. C. 

 Montgomery, a cordial vote of thanks was passed to President 

 Hamilton for presiding. 



Mr. George Kidd said he hoped it would not be permitted to 

 go out from that meeting that the Shareholders would be likely to 

 adopt a resolution transferring the Society's collection to the 

 Corporation. He had seen in the " Northern Whig " that morning 

 a letter from a Shareholder, who put forward as one of the chief 

 reasons for taking such a step the great price which the Shareholders 



