1882.] 1 President's Address. 317 



Chemistry, have been carried on for nearly three years in temporary 

 rooms belonging to the Covvper Street Schools. The attendance at 

 these classes has been eminently satisfactory, mnch more so than could 

 have been anticipated. During the past session 960 class tickets were 

 sold at fees varying from 5s. to 12.9. The staff of the College has 

 recently been doubled by the appointment of a Professor of Mechanical 

 Engineering, and a Head Master to the new Department of Applied 

 Art, the establishment of which, as I stated last year, was then under 

 the consideration of the Committee. In January next, it is antici- 

 pated that the new building in Tabernacle Row, which is already 

 nearly completed, will be opened for the reception of students. The 

 programme of instruction, prepared by the Director and the Pro- 

 fessors of the College, has been for some time under the consideration 

 of the Committee, and it is hoped that in the instruction given in this 

 College will be found the realization of a very important part of the 

 Institute's Scheme of Technical Education. 



Grants to the Technical Science Classes at University College and 

 King's College, London, to the Horological Institute, to the School of 

 Art Wood Carving, and other institutions, have been continued 

 during the past year. 



The Technical Art School in Kennington Park Road, established 

 and maintained by the Institute, has been satisfactorily attended ; and 

 a proposition is to be brought before the Committee for supplementing 

 the teaching of this school by technical science classes, with the view 

 of establishing in the south of London a Technical College for 

 Artizans, similar to the one about to be opened in Finsbury. 



The building of the Central Institution or Technical High School 

 in Exhibition Road, the foundation stone of which was laid by 

 H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, President of the Institute, in July, 

 1882, is rapidly advancing and promises to be completed within a 

 year. It is not expected, however, that this school will be ready for 

 the reception of the students before the commencement of the 

 session 1884-5. Meanwhile, the Council and Committee are fully 

 occupied with the development of other parts of their scheme. 



In forwarding the Report of the Meteorological Council to the 

 Treasury in December last, the President and Council took occasion 

 to remind their Lordships that the arrangement for the organisation 

 of the Meteorological Office generally, in May, 1877, would terminate 

 with the then financial year. The Treasury, in reply, asked the advice 

 of the Royal Society. After consultation with the Meteorological 

 Council on various points connected with the subject, the President 

 and Council reported fully to the Treasury, and concluded with the 

 following general recommendation : " The President and Council beg 

 leave to express a hope that the constitution of the Meteorological 

 Council may remain unchanged, and that the same gentlemen who have 



