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Anniversary Meeting. 



[Nov. 30, 



stances over which I had certainly no conscious control, the result to 

 myself might have been far more serious. 



The total number of Fellows lost to our ranks during the past year 

 is twenty- two on the home list (one of whom has withdrawn on account 

 of growing infirmities), and four on the foreign list ; a result, on the 

 whole, not very different from that of last year. 



Of these two fell young, and by accident. Of the remainder, two 

 died between the ages of 50 and 60. four between those of 60 and 70, 

 six between those of 70 and 80 ; and the remaining five attained ages 

 between four score and 90. 



In Liouville we have again lost a veteran mathematician ; in 

 Wohler, a chemist whose years, numbered from the beginning of the 

 present century, reach to a period almost prehistoric in the records of 

 his science. 



I am happy to report that the sale of the Acton estate has been 

 completed; and that of the proceeds, amounting to £32,250, £17,000 

 has been invested in preference or guaranteed railway stock ; and the 

 remainder will be expended in the purchase of ground rents, partly in 

 the city of London, and partly in the western suburbs. The income 

 from the latter source, already representing a very fair interest on the 

 outlay, may be expected materially to increase at the expiration of the 

 existing building leases. Some additional expense was incurred this 

 year in painting a portion of the Society's apartments. A considerable 

 portion still, remains to be painted, either next year, or at some not 

 very distant period. 



While on the subject of property, I should mention that Her 

 Majesty has sanctioned " the continuance of the occupation of the 

 Royal Observatory at Kew by the Royal Society," upon certain con- 

 ditions, which have been accepted. The building will be devoted, as 

 heretofore, to the use of the Kew Committee, whose work, it must be 

 remembered, is provided for in the main by the Gassiot Fund. 



Last year the Society accepted a portrait of Sir J. D. Hooker, 

 painted by Mr. John Collier, at the request and at the expense of a 

 considerable number of Fellows. I trust that the Society will approve 

 the action of myself and a few others, in this year offering for our 

 collection a portrait, by the same artist, of Mr. Joule. 



Mr. A. Le Gros has presented to the Society a bronze medallion 

 head, executed by himself, of the late Mr. Darwin ; and Mr. Budgett 

 has again enriched our funds by a gift of £100. 



The Library has received many valuable contributions both from 

 our Fellows and from others. Amoug the latter I may mention the 

 completion of " The Lepidoptera of Ceylon," from the Government of 

 Ceylon ; G. Retzius' " Gehororgan der Wirbelthiere," from the 

 author; a new edition of Abel's works, from the Norwegian Govern- 

 ment ; and facsimile lithographs of some of the late Professor 



