THE 
MONTHLY MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 
MAECH 1, 1869. 
I. THE PEESIDENT'S ADDRESS. 
{Delivered hefore the Eoyal Microscopical Society, Fehruary 10, 1869.) 
Gentlemen, 
At the close of a Presidency prolonged by your kindness to 
twice the usual term, I have the satisfaction of leaving the affairs of 
the Society in a flourishing and hopeful state. 
During my period of office important changes have been 
brought about. We have obtained, through the acquisition of a 
Koyal charter, a higher standing for the Society. By that cir- 
cumstance, and by the activity with which our business has been 
conducted, the value of the papers read before us, and the impulse 
we have given to microscopical science, we have, I think, esta- 
blished a claim to receive from the Government accommodation 
equal to that which they have provided or undertaken to provide 
for other similar bodies. I trust my successor will be able to 
obtain its practical recognition. 
As a chartered Society we were able to raise the very low terms 
of subscription at which Fellows were formerly admitted ; and as 
our numbers increase at the new rates of subscription, we shall be 
able to do more for science, and carry out many plans for the good 
of the Society, which our restricted income has hitherto postponed. 
I shall proceed to lay before you the principal facts of our present 
condition ; but first in order, as is customary, I have to speak of 
our losses by death during the past year, and the number we have 
to regret is more than usual, being no less than seven; viz. — 
Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward, William Bird Herapath, Henry G. 
Wright, Henry Sidden, John W. Griesbach, William Milner, and 
Henry Kutt. 
Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward was born at Plaistow, in Essex, in 
the year 1791, and died on the 4th of June, 1868; he was there- 
fore in the seventy-seventh year of his age. His father was for 
many years in practice at Plaistow, where Mr. Ward's early life 
was spent, and where he pursued the study of botany with the 
greatest perseverance. Afterwards he practised as a surgeon in 
AVellclose Square, where he made the discovery which led to the 
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