410 



A nniversary Meeting. 



[Dec. 1, 



suffered no check or shadow of abatement, was devoted to the 

 foundation of a more thorough knowledge of Molecular Physics and 

 of Electrical Laws than has hitherto been attained. The clear insight, 

 the keen criticism, the just and liberal appreciation of the views of 

 others, evinced both elsewhere and especially in his Exports to the 

 Committee of Papers, will long be remembered ; while the more 

 general side of his character, exemplified in the numerous scintilla- 

 tions struck off with his pen, will be no less cherished by those to 

 whom his scientific writings were as a sealed book. 



To replace such a man seems at first impossible ; but we should be 

 doing scant justice to his memory if we did not believe that the good 

 seed which he so liberally sowed would bear such fruit that in the 

 time of need there should be no lack. 



The only change which I have to record among our staff is that in 

 the post of Clerk and assistant in the library. Mr. Wheatley, who had 

 held that office for eighteen years, has been appointed Assistant Secre- 

 tary to the Society of Arts. His place has been supplied by Mr. Rix, 

 who will doubtless justify the high recommendations by which his 

 candidature was supported. 



My predecessor in office wisely made the anniversary address the 

 occasion of communicating to the Fellows at large a summary of the 

 business which, apart from that which is brought before our evening 

 meetings, has occupied the attention of the Council during the current, 

 year. This practice I purpose to continue. 



The subjects which have come before the Council and its Com- 

 mittees during the past year, although perhaps less multifarious, have 

 not been less important than those with which they have had to deal 

 in former years. They may perhaps be conveniently classed under the 

 following heads: — (1) Property; (2) Regulations and Procedure: 

 (3) the Government Grant and Fund ; (4) Matters referred to us by 

 the Government ; (5) the Publications of the Society. 



(1.) Property. The Fees Reduction Fund. — This has received a few, 

 but not large, contributions. It was calculated, as stated on a former 

 occasion, that an investment of the surplus, after providing for the loss 

 of income arising from the abolition of entrance fees, and the reduction 

 of annual payments from £4 to £3, would render the fund permanently 

 self-supporting. It will, however, be in the recollection of the Fellows 

 that two objects presented themselves to the mind of the Council 

 when the fund was originated, viz., the reductions above mentioned, 

 and a provision for the expenses of our publications; and that neither 

 of them has been wholly abandoned. Although the Fund, as now 

 constituted, is primarily directed to the first of these objects, yet it 

 has been hoped that, through accretions which may arise from time 

 to time, the second purpose may eventually be also furthered. And 

 bearing in mind the increasing demands upon the Society's income 



