PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



ROYAL PHYSICAL SOCIETY. 



EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION, 1856-1857. 



Wednesday, November 26, 1856. Robert Chambers, Esq., President, 



in the Chair. 



The following Donations to the Library were laid on the table, and 

 thanks voted to the donors : — 



1. Army Meteorological Register, from 1843 to 1854, inclusive. Pre- 

 pared under the direction of Surgeon- General Thomas Lawson, United 

 States Army. Presented from the American Government through the 

 British Foreign Office. — 2. Proceedings of the Berwickshire Naturalists' 

 Club, 1856. From the Club. 



I. Robert Chambers, Esq., then delivered the Opening Address as 

 follows : — 



Gentlemen, — We are now commencing the eighth year of 

 •what I may call the revived or second life of the Royal Phy- 

 sical Society. I am happy to be able to congratulate the 

 members on the prospect of its living many more years in use- 

 fulness and honour. Its activity is undiminished ; its meet- 

 ings, by the amount of attendance, show that a general interest 

 in our objects is sustained ; perfect harmony prevails amongst 

 us ; and our proceedings begin to make a respectable appear- 

 ance in the current annals of science. At the same time there 

 is a constant addition of new members going on, and our 

 Treasurer's accounts show that our funds are in a sufficiently 

 flourishing condition. 



While congratulating ourselves on the number of our mem- 

 bers, I would have you all keep in mind the necessity of every 

 effort being made to obtain new ones. We are the more under 

 this necessity from the sad fact that every year is removing 

 some of our number, and these sometimes the most valuable 



VOL. I. Q 



