28 
The President's Address. 
Messrs. Powell and Lealand_, and Messrs. Smithy Beckj and 
Beck will supply any objectives required of them^ at prices 
which will leave them no gainers by the transaction^ and will 
barely cover the cost of production. Messrs. Smithy Beck^ 
and Beck also write me as follows : — Having been informed 
that Mr. Boss has promised to present to the Society one of 
his best microscopes, complete in every respect, we have con- 
sidered whether we should, on our part, make any gratuitous 
addition to the above offer (which refers to the liberal terms 
on which they will supply any glasses ordered from them) ; 
and we have determined not to do so at present. The exist- 
ing arrangements of the Society admit of so few and of such 
short opportunities for the use of the microscopes by the mem- 
bers, that any increase in the present number of instruments 
would confer no real benefit in any way. Whenever the So- 
ciety may provide fit accommodation for the proper use of 
good serviceable microscopes, as well as the means of frequent 
access to them, the gratuitous contributions then from most, 
if not from all of the makers, will, no doubt, be very con- 
siderable. We are quite prepared to do our part ; but probably 
a present of more than one stand, or some arrangement of 
instruments adapted to the particular wants of the members 
generally, would be of more service to the Society than merely 
another complete microscope, many of the accessories to which 
would probably never be used. That the future of the Society 
may be so prosperous as to test this promise of ours to the 
utmost, and at no distant period, is the sincere wish of yours 
very truly, Smith, Beck, and Beck.^-' 
Last year, on this occasion, I was fortunate in having to 
announce the gift to the Society, by Mr. Peters, of his instru- 
ment for microscopic writing. Soon after it was known that 
this instrument was in the possession of the Society, intima- 
tions were given to the Council that it would be an acceptable 
addition to the collection of wonderful objects then being 
prepared at South Kensington. The Council were led to 
believe they would not be justified in withholding from public 
inspection an instrument so ingeniously contrived, and by the 
use of which such marvellous results had been attained. 
Finally, the Council determined on sending it to the Inter- 
national Exhibition. It was admitted to the building on 
Monday, May 5th ; on Wednesday, 7th, a notice of it ap- 
peared in the ' Times,^ which at once directed public attention 
to it j and it continued to excite much interest during the 
whole of the time the Exhibition was open to the public. The 
simplicity and completeness of its arrangements were highly 
commended hj those^ foreigners or countrymen^ best able 
