14 PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 
but it is expected that in time the whole of the capital will be 
repaid ; we then hope to be in a position to make a commencement, 
giving occasionally a short course of lectures upon geology, the 
science to which he was so much devoted. 
According to established custom, I waited upon His Excellency 
the Governor, and I have the pleasure to inform you that Lord 
Carrington has expressed his willingness to accept office as our 
Honorary President, and to render every service to the Society, and 
promote its interests in any way which may be within his power. 
As you will see from the ballot papers, we are about to lose 
the valuable services of Dr. Leibius, who for the past eleven 
years has been one of our Hon. Secretaries. When I state 
that we all regret that he finds it necessary to retire from the 
position which he has so honorably and efficiently filled for so 
many years, I feel that I am but imperfectly expressing the 
gratitude which the members entertain for the many services he 
has rendered to the Society, their appreciation of his great worth, 
and of the interest and care which he has always shown for the 
Society’s welfare. 
Personally I am probably better aware than most of you how 
much of his time he has given to its affairs. Not only has he 
been one of our Secretaries for so long, but previously to that he 
was for some years a Member of Council. I know that he has 
often devoted his leisure and evenings to the Society, at a great 
sacrifice to his own comfort and convenience. I need hardly 
remind you that his duties at our Council and general meetings 
absorbed but a small portion of the time which he has cheerfully 
placed at our disposal. I trust, and I am sure you will all join — 
with me in expressing the hope, that he will long remain with us 
in a more honorable although less exacting position such as that 
tor which he has been nominated. 
It is a source of much regret and considerable concern that the 
number of original papers contributed to the Society is so small. 
Out of nearly 500 existing members, only thirty-five have con- 
tributed papers, and the majority of those have been supplied by 
