ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS, 



Delivered May 12th, 1869, by the Rev. W. B. Clarice, M.A., 

 F.G.S., 8fc, Vice-President. 



G-entlemen of the Boyal Society, — According to annual 

 custom, and in compliance with the request with which I have 

 been again honoured by the Council, it devolves upon me to 

 address you at the commencement of a new session. 



I would very much have preferred that one of our younger 

 and more able members had taken my place this evening ; but 

 I do not wish to be unmindful of the responsibilities of an 

 official position, nor of the use there may be in briefly noticing 

 the several topics on which I will now proceed to speak. 



Since our last session closed, one of the objects mentioned 

 in my Inaugural Address in 1867 has been attained. I refer to 

 the remarks made by me respecting the erection of some lasting 

 testimonial to the memory of Captain Cook, the first, and till 

 recently, the only record of the kind having been the work of 

 the original Society from which this has sprung. 



The hundredth anniversary of the landing of the great 

 navigator has been anticipated one year, and the work has been 

 commenced under the most favourable auspices and most 

 appropriately by H.E.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, who, a month 

 or two since, again visited these shores. 



It is satisfactory for us to know, that though this Society was 

 not invited to any assistance in the ceremony, the Centenary will 

 not pass without the completion of a design which will embellish 

 the city and express the gratitude of the community. 



Turning now to ourselves, I am glad to be able to congratulate 



you upon what ought to be considered an improving state of 



our affairs. The report which will be read to-night proves that 



our members have recently increased, and the funds will, of 



B 



