The Presidenfs Address, 
The President then delivered the following address. 
The President's Address /or the year 1857. 
By George Shadbolt. 
Ever since the formation of the Microscopical Society^ it 
has been the undeviating custom for the president at each 
recurring anniversary_, to present to the members a species 
of intellectual balance sheet, or rather profit and loss 
account of the acquisitions to microscopical science during 
the past year. 
It is not without some considerable diffidence that I enter 
upon this duty_, especially retaining, as I do, a vivid remem- 
brance of the masterly and comprehensive productions of 
my immediate predecessor in this chair. Dr. Carpenter — a 
gentleman pre-eminently qualified for such a task ; but as 
the performance of it by the individual who has the honour 
to fill the presidential office for the time being is impera- 
tive, I shall proceed to do so to the best of my ability, 
without further hesitation, trusting to your indulgence for 
any shortcomings of which I may be guilty. 
Since our last anniversary we have held as usual eight 
ordinary meetings, at which have been read eleven original 
papers, one repetition of a paper which had previously 
appeared in a colonial publication devoted to science, and 
two reports from sub-committees appointed by the Council 
to make special recommendations upon points connected 
with subjects upon which uniformity of system seems to be 
desirable. I cannot therefore consider that the session has 
been by any means a barren one, in quantity at least ; neither 
will a close investigation of the quality of the matter afibrded 
for our mental repast prove less satisfactory. 
At all of the meetings, very animated and instructive dis- 
cussions upon the subjects of the various papers have also 
taken place, and it is much to be regretted that the income 
of the society is not sufficient to permit of measures being 
adopted for securing a permanent record of much valuable 
information that is thus drawn forth. 
It is true that at two of the meetings we were unsupplied 
with any paper, in consequence of illness in one case, and 
professional engagements in another, interfering to prevent 
the preparation of matter provisionally promised; but 
even under these adverse circumstances discussions 
upon subjects interesting to the followers of microscopical 
science spontaneously arose. It is manifestly impossible 
for the Council as a body to undertake the manufacture of 
