45 
The President's Address /or the year 1866. 
By James Glaisher^ Esq.^ F.R.S., &c. 
Gentlemen^ — It sometimes happens that one finds himself 
in a position which requires explanation \ such is my own 
case this evening. 
Your rules require an Annual Address from your Presi- 
dent^ an address which should speak with authority of the 
advance in Microscopical Science,, and indicate as far as 
possible its future prospects^ by one well versed by practical 
experience and the devotion of much thought and care. 
Hitherto on these occasions you have listened to such 
Presidents^ the accredited Representatives and Leaders in 
Microscopical Science, but my usual avocations are not 
microscopical, and they are so engrossing I have no time 
to devote to these researches, and therefore my sense of 
unfitness for this task would have precluded my appearance 
before you as the exponent of your views. 
I am here, however, at your command, and I should be 
unworthy of your confidence did I not endeavour to comply 
with your rules by collecting information from all persons 
and all sources, and giving to our proceedings that complete- 
ness which the founders of this Society contemplated. 
It is not, however, expected that an annual address should 
take the form of a scientific paper, but that it should embrace 
a wider field, and include more varied subjects ; tracing the 
progress of Microscopical Science in the year, and therefore 
including the results of the labour of many individuals ; in 
attempting this, should I omit anything which I ought to 
have included, I beg you to excuse me. 
The objects of this Society, as laid down in the constitu- 
tions, are varied. They are, however, emphatically the 
advancement of Microscopical Science. In this two things 
are implied — firstly, that Microscopical Science is a worthy 
object of pursuit ; and secondly, that combined efforts are 
necessary. 
A few moments^ consideration of these points may be in- 
teresting : — 
VOL. XIV. d 
