90 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 
The President called attention to the name of Dr. Czapski as being 
amongst those proposed for election as Fellows of the Society, and 
congratulated them upon the prospect of being able to include in their 
number one who was undoubtedly the most eminent optician in Europe 
at the present time. 
Mr. E. M. Nelson exhibited a small lamp for the Microscope, which 
had been designed by Mr. Goodwin. It was, of course, not intended for 
serious microscopical work, but as a portable lamp it was a very nice 
little thing, well made and nickel plated, and having a metal chimney 
provided with tinted glass screens. A novel feature was that the wick 
was made of blotting-paper, which appeared to answer the purpose 
admirably. He had this lamp alight for several hours on the previous 
evening, and found it to burn most satisfactorily. 
The President thought this was a very pretty little lamp, and the 
use of blotting-paper for the wick seemed to be a very good idea, as it 
was said to last longer than cotton, and not to require any trimming. 
In his experience, however, most of the so-called indestructible wicks 
did wear out in the course of a short time. He had lately been using a 
carbon burner for his lamp, and found it remarkably clean, and not to 
require trimming ; but it did wear out. The makers gave the life of a 
wick of this kind as about three months, but he found that it did not 
last more than from one month to six weeks. 
The thanks of the meeting were voted to Mr. Nelson for bringing 
this lamp under their notice. 
The Annual Report of the Council was then read by Prof. Bell. 
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR 1896. 
FELLOWS. 
Ordinary . — During the year 1896, 14 new Fellows were elected, 
whilst 5 have died, 9 have resigned, and 18 have been removed from the 
list for non-payment of subscriptions, and other causes. 
Honorary . — No Honorary Fellow is known to have died during the 
past year. The vacancy caused by the death of M. Pasteur remains to 
be filled. 
The list of Fellows now contains the names of 560 Ordinary, 
1 Corresponding, 49 Honorary, and 84 ex-Officio Fellows, being a total 
of 694. 
FINANCES. 
Subscriptions . — As will be seen by the Treasurer’s balance sheet, the 
diminution of income from this source amounts to more than 150Z. ; this 
fall is to some extent explained by the fact that the arrears under this 
head have been greater than in any previous years. The Council 
desire to again urge on the Fellows the punctual payment of their 
subscriptions. 
Journal . — The state of the Society’s finances at the end of the year 
