Minutes of Proceedings. xlix 



the records of these two decades it is curious to observe how the 

 membership has waxed and waned. It reached its maximum in 

 1880, that is to say only three years after the opening meeting, 

 and while, doubtless, the enthusiastic zeal of the original founders 

 was yet warm within them. This is a common phenomenon in the 

 history of societies, and therefore ought not to be wondered at or to 

 be viewed at the time with alarm. It should be sufficient for those 

 interested to know what history teaches, and to take steps accord- 

 ingly. In all human affairs a period of prosperity should be a period 

 of increased watchfulness ; and when the membership of a society 

 seems to be approaching its maximum then is the very time for 

 its leading spirits to be prepared for an extra effort. To follow the 

 fluctuations in the Society's fortunes would not serve any good 

 purpose. It will be more to the point if I put the straight practical 

 question : There being eighty-nine members so long ago as 1880, 

 how many ought there be to-day when the population of Cape Town 

 and neighbourhood has almost doubled ? Again, I notice in glancing 

 over the old records that a considerable number of former members 

 who are still alive and vigorous have not for some considerable time 

 been connected with the Society. The cause or causes of this I do 

 not know, but it seems to me a matter for great regret. We need 

 them all. I should have been glad if they had seen fit during my 

 term of office to come back to their allegiance, and I trust sincerely 

 that they may yet do so. 



Another possible line of effort arises from the fact that one of the 

 most important functions of a society is to promote the accomplish- 

 ment of work which a mere individual may find impossible or 

 difficult to do. An instance of this, besides that already referred 

 to, is to be found in investigations which require long-continued 

 labour, or which, for other reasons, must be spread over a consider- 

 able period of time. The individual dies ; the society lives on. 

 The members of Council, therefore, if they be wise, will see to it 

 that the plans of their predecessors are not forgotten, but that, on 

 the contrary, there is a steady continuity of purpose and effort. 

 Now, I observe that on the 14th of October, 1878, that is to say 

 nineteen years ago, it. was resolved that subject-catalogues of scien- 

 tific works relating to South Africa should be prepared by certain 

 members designated for the duty, and should be published at the 

 Society's expense. The subjects selected were six in number, viz., 

 Zoology, Botany, Geography, Ethnology, Meteorology, and Geology. 

 No wiser or more important decision, you will readily own, could 

 the Council of a scientific body have come to, and one is deeply 

 interested in following up the volumes of Transactions to see 



