WAR a 1895 
JOURNAL 
OF THE 
ROYAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 
FEBEUAEY 1895. 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 
I . — The President's Address: 
The History of the Poyal Microscopical Society. 
By A. D. Michael, F.L.S., &c. 
(Bead 1 6th January , 1895.) 
A presidential address is usually a review of something. This 
Society has now existed for over half a century ; I thiuk, therefore, it 
is a time when we can afford to 'devote part of a single evening to 
a subject which, although not strictly to be called scientific, may 
probably interest you ; namely a review of the history of the Society 
itself. 
If any one of you will leave this West-end abode of science, and 
crossing the business parts of the City will make his way eastward 
as far as Tower Hill, and leaving Tower Hill at Sparrow Corner 
will pass along Boyal Mint Street, he will find himself in Cable 
Street, St. George’s in the East. I cannot promise that he will be 
struck either by the quietness or the cleanliness of the locality ; the 
shadow of the neighbouring docks is on it, and its principal features 
seem to be rag and bottle shops, marine store dealers, and street 
stalls ; but if he turn to the right down Shorter Street he will 
suddenly emerge in a much quieter spot ; in front of him will be what 
has once been a considerable space of green, but is now chiefly 
occupied by St. Paul’s church for seamen. The “ Infant Nursery ” 
belonging to that excellent institution will be exactly facing him, but 
the foundation stone of that building was not laid until 1872, so at 
the time I am going to speak of the Green still existed ; and although 
a church stood upon it it was the Danish church, in which was a 
royal closet specially reserved for the King of Denmark when visiting 
this country, opening by two sash windows, one looking on to the 
pulpit and the other over the congregation. Beyond the fine old 
trees which surrounded the church was a somewhat famous spring 
well. The place, I fear, will not now impress our traveller as having 
either a scientific or a fashionable aspect, but if he passes the Catholic 
1895 B 
