633 



In the sister sciences of Geology and Palaeontology, the same year 

 has seen issue to light one of the most important works that has ap- 

 peared for a great length of time, — I mean the great work on the 

 Geology of Russia, by which, assisted by the two companions of his 

 travels, the President of the British Association, Sir Roderick Mur- 

 chison, has crowned his Silurian labours. 



In the department of palceontology we have also seen the com- 

 mencement of the able and splendidly illustrated description of those 

 extraordinary and gigantic extinct Mammalia, with which the libe- 

 rality of Major Cautley has enriched our national collection at the 

 British Museum. In the same department we have seen that which 

 has been hitherto little more than the instrument of amusement, an 

 amusement it is true well-worthy of a great naval people, I mean a 

 yacht, converted into the means of adding largely to our knowledge 

 of the marine zoology of the British seas. As President of the prin- 

 cipal Scientific Society in England, I think it right to express the 

 thanks of science to Mr. MacAndrew, for the liberality, of which 

 Professor Edward Forbes has made such good use, and more espe- 

 cially for the example thus set to others. This, Gentlemen, is an in- 

 stance among many that might be found, of the utility, for the pur- 

 pose of extending science itself, of spreading even among those who 

 do not absolutely pursue it themselves, the feeling of its real in- 

 terest and importance. It is a proof that the rich and the powerful 

 can, from time to time, advance knowledge by holding out a help- 

 ing hand to its active cultivators. 



Within a few days. Gentlemen, you have seen revived the ancient 

 and time-honoured custom of the delivery of the Bakerian Lec- 

 ture. I regret that this custom had slumbered for several years, 

 and rejoice at the success which attended it in the able hands of 

 Mr. Grove, aided no doubt by the very interesting nature of the 

 communication which he had to make to us. I hope we shall not 

 again suffer it to fall into desuetude. 



It has occurred. Gentlemen, to myself and to your Council, that 

 many of the Members of the Physiological Committee, owing to 

 their imperative professional duties, have not their time so much at 

 their own disposal as those of the other scientific conmiittees. We 

 have therefore thought it right to add to the numbers of the mem- 

 bers of that particular committee, as it is evident that it is import- 

 ant that it should have a respectable attendance whenever it has to 

 discharge the duties entrusted to its care. 



In the financial statement that has been laid before you, you will 

 see that the expenditure on our Transactions this year has been 

 larger than for several years that have lately elapsed. The average 

 expense for the last five years has been 750 pounds ; for the last 

 ten about a hundred a year more. For this year, including a vo- 

 lume of Magnetical Observations now in the press, it will amount 

 to about £1400, of which however we have reason to expect that 

 about £200 will be repaid to us by the Government. This will 

 leave about £1200. 



This, Gentlemen, is a large sum, and probably for some years it 



