252 president's address. 



and which is intended to show the exact position and work of 

 the Club in each year since its foundation. The statistics con- 

 tained in this table have been gleaned partly from the published 

 Transactions, and partly from the Secretaries' and Treasurer's 

 books. 



Eeal and substantial as was the success which attended the 

 foundation of the Club, and which continued to mark the growth 

 of its early years, it is not a little satisfactory to observe that the 

 ratio of progress, so far from falling off, has been steadily increas- 

 ing for many years past. 



The number of members during the first year after the estab- 

 lishment of the Club was eighty-seven; in 1856 this number had 

 increased to two hundred and one ; last year it had risen to five 

 hundred and twenty-three ; at the present time it amounts to no 

 less than five hundred and seventy-three. During the past twelve 

 months eighty-one new members have been elected, an addition 

 to our ranks which has only been exceeded in one previous year. 



Now let us look at the income and outlay. In 1846 £11 15s. 

 was received and £7 10s. 6d. was expended. These amounts 

 have been gradually increasing, especially during later years, 

 until last year our receipts had swollen to £141 9s. 9d., and our 

 expenditure to £161 8s. 10d. At this Anniversary a statement 

 has been laid before you which shows that the sums just men- 

 tioned have been again exceeded, and our Treasurer has announced 

 to us the agreeable facts that in the accounts now audited the 

 sum of £210 6s. stands on the creditor side, and £195 10s. on 

 the debtor. What is still more important, we have only one 

 outstanding bill of £9, and commence the opening year with a 

 balance of £28 8s. 6d. at our bankers. "We have every reason 

 therefore to be well satisfied with the present financial condition 

 of the Club. 



I feel that I should be ill discharging my duty, gentlemen, 

 and at the same time be depriving myself of a pleasure, did I 

 pass from the present subject without expressing the high opi- 

 nion I entertain of the value of the kind offices of those gentle- 

 men who so ably conduct the business of the Club. From myself, 

 personally, I trust that they will accept my grateful thanks for 



