1888 - 89 .] 
Chairman's Opening Address. 
3 
This is not the place or time for discussing what is the best basis 
upon which the election of Fellows to such a Society as ours should 
rest, whether by our system of petition — recommendation by four 
existing Fellows, and subsequent scrutiny by the Council of evidence 
in the candidate’s favour — or by the selection of a limited number 
of names of those who have, so to speak, won their spurs by original 
work. We must bear in mind that science is not nowadays the 
arcanum of the philosopher, and that every day shows more and 
more how indissolubly science is mixed up with those great prac- 
tical works which so powerfully influence the material prosperity of 
the country — (we need not go for this beyond the realms of Physics 
and Chemistry) — and that there are many among us whose occupa- 
tions or inclinations do not permit of their working at scientific 
research, but who yet know the value of it for practical purposes, 
and who are deeply interested in learning, as directly as possible, 
either by the hearing of the ear from the scientist himself, or by 
the perusal of the papers in our Transactions and Proceedings , what 
he has to tell them. I am always glad to welcome such men into 
our ranks. 
As regards financial matters, those who have looked into the 
abstract of the accounts of our excellent Treasurer will see that the 
income for the past sessional year was exceeded by the expenditure 
to the extent of about £235. We need not be alarmed at this. 
Most of it is accounted for by the expenditure on one item, the im- 
portant volume of the “Botany -of Socotra;” and the finances 
otherwise are in a satisfactory state. 
Of course the heaviest item in our annual expenditure is the 
printing of the Transactions and Proceedings, which amounted last 
year to about <£780. This cannot be avoided. These publications 
are an essential object of our existence, but assuredly every endeavour 
is made to have this done as economically as is consistent with the 
prime requisite of accuracy. 
This allusion to our publications leads me to notice certain new 
arrangements which the Council have made with a view to expedit- 
ing the issue of the Transactions and Proceedings. With this view 
they have resolved that each memoir in the Transactions shall be 
printed separately, and be obtainable as soon as ready, without wait- 
ing for the completion of a part of a volume. Those Fellows who 
