298 



A nniversary Meeting. 



[Nov. 30, 



of my hearers must be as warmly interested in them as I am myself 

 and it may not be out of place to submit two questions for their 

 serious consideration. 



In the interests of science, will any change be satisfactory which 

 does not lighten the linguistic burden at present imposed on students 

 of science and of medicine by the matriculation examination ? 



And again, in the interests of science, will any change be satis- 

 factory which does not convert the examining university into a teaching 

 university ? And, by that last term, I do not mean a mere co-operative 

 society of teacher- examiners, but a corporation which shall embrace 

 a professoriate charged with the exposition and the advancement of 

 the higher forms of knowledge in all its branches. 



The future both of pure science and of medicine in this country 

 is, I think, greatly interested in the answer which Fellows of this 

 Society, after due meditation, may be disposed to give to these 

 questions. 



I have to announce an unusually large number of changes in the 

 staff of the Society. 



Last December we regretted to receive the resignation of Mr. Walter 

 White, so long our Assistant Secretary, whose faithful and efficient 

 services, continued for more than forty years, are well known to all 

 the Fellows of the Society. The minutes of the Council record our 

 appreciation of Mr. White's services, and our endeavour to give as 

 substantial a form as possible to our hearty recognition of his deserts. 

 The vacancy thus caused has been filled up by the appointment of 

 Mr. Herbert Bix, whose work since he has held the office of clerk 

 has been such as to justify the confidence of the officers, not only that 

 the functions hitherto discharged by the Assistant Secretary will be as 

 well performed as heretofore ; but that, if the interests of the Society 

 should demand it, we may throw still more important duties upon him. 

 I receive the most favourable reports of the efficiency of Mr. James 

 who has been appointed to the office of clerk in place of Mr. Rix. 



Notwithstanding my release from all serious work, my health 

 remained so very indifferent for some months after my return to 

 England, that I felt it my duty to the Society to bring the question of 

 my resignation of the Presidency, on the present Anniversary, before 

 the Council which met on the 20th of May. My colleagues were kind 

 enough to wish that my final decision should be deferred, and I need 

 hardly say how willing I should have been to retain my honourable 

 office, if I could have done so with due regard to the interests of 

 the Society, and perhaps I may add, of self-preservation. 



I am happy to say that I have good reason to believe that, with 

 prolonged rest — by which I do not mean idleness, but release from 

 distraction and complete freedom from those lethal agencies which 



