( 17 ) 
Address of the President. 
Gentlemen, — The circumstances under which our Society 
now meets, bear so close a resemblance to those which ex- 
isted at its last Anniversary, that we must look upon them, I 
think, as representing, not a transient condition which it may 
be left to time to modify, but a persistent state which has 
grown to be a part of our existing constitution. I think it 
• well, therefore, to place before you, in the best manner I am 
able, such an honest view of our position as may bring out 
our weak as well as our strong points, our deficiencies as well 
as our advantages ; and may thus at once suggest remedies 
for the former, and lead to the still further development of 
the latter. 
Our Report is again most satisfactory in regard to the 
financial position of the Society. The number of members 
still continues on the increase, no fewer than thirty-two new 
members having been elected, whilst we have lost only twelve 
by death or withdrawal. Our funds have consequently been 
adequate, not only to supply every member with a copy of 
the * Quarterly Journal,' but also to furnish tea for our meet- 
ings ; and we have also been able to meet without inconve- 
nience an unexpected demand for an arrear of twelve guineas 
due to the Ray Society. 
Our meetings, also, have been almost uniformly well 
attended ; and great benefit has doubtless resulted from the 
intercommunication which they have promoted between so 
many who are interested in the same pursuit. 
We are far, however, from having similar cause for satis- 
faction, in regard to the number or the importance of the 
papers brought before us. The dearth which I last year 
hoped might be temporary, has increased rather than di- 
minished ; and our meetings would have been without any- 
thing to occupy them, on several occasions, if means had not 
been extemporaneously found for supplying the deficiency. 
Our Transactions for the last year contain but two papers and 
one short notice ; and these, with a paper which it was not 
thought desirable to include in them, and with the exhibition 
of Mr. Warrington's and of Dr. Beale's new forms of micro- 
scope, constitute the whole of the regular business which has 
come before us. 
Now I cannot but regard the continuance of this state of 
things as likely to be most prejudicial to the interests of the 
Society. It would be unreasonable to expect that the attend- 
ance at our meetings should keep up, if there be no adequate 
