ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS, 



Delivered to the Moyal Sociefi/, VJtli May, 187G, hy Eev. "W. B. 

 Claeke, 31 a., F.B.S., F.O.S., Sfc, Vice-President. 



GrENTLEMEJJ", 



On the last Anniversary I ventured to draw somewhat 

 largely on your patience by a discussion of two important topics 

 which required a considerable amount of research and made it 

 necessary for me to detain you somewhat longer than usual. To- 

 night I propose to confine myself to the Society itself, and to 

 what may be suggested by the events of the period that has 

 elapsed since I last addressed you. 



It is my first duty to mention the Conversazione which was 

 held on the 3rd instant, and was, I understand, a great success. 

 The multiplicity of interesting objects exhibited, and the 

 explanations afforded by the Astronomer and others, gratified a 

 company of three hundred persons, many of whom were the guests 

 of the Society. It was unfortunate that several ladies who had 

 graced the room with their presence suffered from the heavy 

 rain that fell as they returned from the assembly, but after the 

 alarming dryness that had so long threatened and at last had 

 begun to create fears of a continuous drought, they could scarcely 

 complain of what was an undoubted blessing to thousands in the 

 land. I regret that I was not well enough to attend, but at the 

 same time I confess I was warned early in the day by the appear- 

 ance of the sky, and recrossed the harbour before the hour of 

 meeting. 



To-night I have not been enabled to exercise similar caution, 

 but I am equally contented to have personal experience of the 

 continuation of the blessings now being showered upon us. 



A 



