(President’ s Address. 
5 
President, M. II. Perley, Esq.’’ By his death the society lost 
an active and influential member. 
At the annual meeting, January, 1863, the roll consisted of 
two honorary, ten corresponding, and sixty-nine ordinary 
members. Of the latter nine had been admitted during the 
year. 
Messrs. Hartt, Matthew, Starr, Payne and Hegan, mem- 
bers of the Steinharnmer Club, gave their valuable collection 
to the society. They were constituted life members. 
Dr. C. K. Fiske donated a valuable collection of native 
aquatic birds. Dr. Fiske was made a life member. 
Measures were taken to secure to the society the very valu- 
able collection of Devonian fossils made by Mr. C. F. Hartt. 
In 1864 there were in the museum 10,000 minerals and 
fossils, ^,000 marine invertebrate, 750 insects, 500 plants and 
30 birds. Mr. H. F. Perley gave a collection of minerals 
illustrating the gold formation of Nova Scotia. Mr. Perley 
was made a life member. 
In 1868 the society concluded to secure another place for 
their meetings and their collection. The basement of the 
Grammar School, Germain street, was occupied. The change 
did not prove advantageous. The ebb had fairly commenced! 
The room was too small; it was gloomy and uncomfortable; 
its dampness threatened to injure the collections. At this 
time offers were made to the School Trustees to take charge 
of the collection for the benefit of the public schools. The 
Trustees declined the offer. Finally arrangements were 
made with the Directors of the Mechanics’ Institute. During 
two years only five meetings of the society were held and 
about as many of the Council. 
From 1874 to 1880 the night settled down, and the society 
slept a quiet sleep! In March, 1880, a meeting to resuscitate 
the institution was convened. The members present were 
W. Jack, Esq., President; Dr. Inches, Dr. Hamilton, G. F. 
Matthew and R. P. Starr. 
New energy was infused by the addition of Gen. Warner, 
U. S. Consul, D. H. Waterbury, J. T. C. McKean, W. N. 
Gould, G. Ernest Fairweather, C. A. McDonald, \V. M. 
