Meetings, 1885. 



museum with numerous specimens difficult to procure through 

 any other source. Duplicates of these could easily be disposed 

 of at a reasonable price to aquaria or museums abroad, or be 

 exchanged for such specimens as we ourselves did not possess. 



It will be expected that I should say something on this 

 occasion, in relation to the progress made in view of the better 

 accommodation of the Society, and its present and prospective 

 collection of objects, in this building. Mr. Alles and myself had 

 hoped that a more suitable room than the present one could 

 have been provided for our meetings ere this time ; but the un- 

 expected delay which has occurred in the completion of the 

 extensive additions that are being made to the original build- 

 ing, has rendered this impossible. We hope, however, that in 

 the course of two or three months we shall be so situated as to 

 be enabled to offer the members a room for their meetings, which 

 will be far better adapted for the purpose than the present 

 one. I may here remark, as having a close connection with the 

 objects of the Society, that the Natural History collection of 

 the late Mechanics' Institution, is now being transferred to the 

 upper storey of this building, where it is intended to be placed 

 permanently, with my own and Mr. Alles' private geological 

 and mineralogical collections, as nuclei of what we hope will 

 later better deserve the name of museum. Every single speci- 

 men, however, from the largest to the most diminutive of the 

 former collection which has not yet been completely ruined by 

 dust, insects, or atmospheric influences, requires careful clean- 

 ing ; and as this operation cannot be entrusted to every one, it 

 will take some time ere the collection is placed where it is in- 

 tended to remain. 



And now, a last word as to another educational depart- 

 ment of this Institution, which it is hoped may have con- 

 siderable influence in developing a taste not alone for that 

 branch of Natural Science which this Society aims at culti- 

 vating, but for all useful knowledge generally. I refer to 



