xxxii Proceedings. {March 2gth, i8g8. 



Schunck might be called the "father" of the Society. He had 

 been a member for 56 years, and had held the office of President 

 four times. He had contributed most important papers on 

 various dyes and colouring matters, and it was for these and the 

 life-long services he had given for the advancement of science 

 that the Council had awarded him the medal. 



In his reply, Dr. Schunck said that his labours had been 

 confined to a very small department of chemistry, but a depart- 

 ment which was very important. He would like very much, if he 

 could, to add to these labours, but he was afraid that at his age 

 it was hardly possible to do important work, and no dojibt many 

 would say that it was better that he should not attempt it. He 

 had two or three irons in the fire, but whether he would ever 

 take them out he did not know. 



In handing the Wilde Premium for 1898 to Mr. John 

 BuTTERWORTH, F.R.M.S., the President stated that it had been 

 awarded by the Council in recognition of the excellent work done 

 by Mr. Butterworth, more especially in regard to the flora of the 

 coal measures. , 



Mr. Butterworth expressed his thanks to the Society for 

 the honour it had done him, and said that he had worked for 

 nearly thirty years with the late Professor Williamson, and had 

 contributed materials for a considerable portion of the memoirs. 

 He regretted that in his early days he had not had the ad- 

 vantages of systematic instruction ; with him it had been a case 

 of the night school and the solitary candle. He had pursued 

 the study of geology purely for the love of it, and had found 

 great enjoyment among the flora of the coal measures. 



This brought the first part of the proceedings to a close. 

 The members then adjourned to the Library, where the Wilde 

 Lecture, " On the Physical Basis of Psychical Events," 

 was delivered by Professor Michael Foster, M.A., Sec. R.S. 

 At the conclusion of the Lecture, a hearty vote of thanks 

 was accorded to Professor Foster, on the motion of the 

 President, seconded by Professor Lamb, F.R.S. 

 The Lecture is printed in full in the Me7noirs. 



