LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LOXDON. 



XIX 



of these alterations. They were made by the Council after the 

 most mature deliberation, and I believe that every one who com- 

 pares their present with their past state will acknowledge that 

 every change has been an improvement. 



The vacancy occasioned by the much-regretted retirement of 

 Dr. Boott from the office of Treasurer, has been proposed to 

 be filled up by the nomination of Mr. Wilson Saunders — an ar- 

 rangement which needs no recommendation from me to secure the 

 cordial approval of the Society. But, to my sorrow, I have to an- 

 nounce that, whilst retiring from office, Dr. Boott has also sig- 

 nified his desire not to be re-elected into the Council, a circum- 

 stance which will be felt by the whole Society as a serious loss. — 

 After having acted as Secretary and as Treasurer for many years, 

 during which his services in both capacities, and as a member of 

 Council, were invaluable, whilst the gentle urbanity of his manners, 

 his warmth of heart, and the never-failing interest he always took 

 in the welfare of the Society caused him to be regarded with the 

 deepest personal esteem and respect, his removal from a position 

 which kept him, as it were, in continual and close relation to us, 

 will be felt by us all as a very painful breach in our brotherhood. 



Before I take my leave, Grentlemen, I cannot but advert for 

 a moment to the very important duty which will devolve upon 

 you this day — the choice of a new President. When, from circum- 

 stances with which I have no occasion to trouble you, I de- 

 cided upon inflicting on myself the severe self-denial of request- 

 ing the Society not to re-elect me as their President at this Anni- 

 versary, I considered it my duty to confer with the Treasurer and 

 some other of the older members of the Council as to the gentle- 

 man whom I should propose as my successor. The first considera- 

 tion was, that he should be a Botanist, and it appeared to me and 

 to my friends and consultees, that there could be no hesitation as 

 to the distinguished person who should be proposed to the Council 

 for their nomination. Mr. Bentham's extensive — may I not say 

 unequalled? — knowledge of scientific botany is too well known to 

 need any eulogy from me. We have all for years past been accus- 

 tomed to listen with admiration to his papers in this room, and 

 to the good sense and extensive information which he has thrown 

 into our discussions. 



But there is one claim which Mr. Bentham possesses to the 

 suffrages of the Linnean Society in particular, on which no one is 

 more entitled to speak than myself, and that is the remarkable 



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