25 
The President’s Address for the year 1866-1867. 
By James Glaisher, Esq., F.R S., &c. 
The year 1866-7 will be memorable in the annals of the 
Microscopical Society, as that in which a Royal Charter was 
obtained for its incorporation, in which Her Most Gracious 
Majesty Queen Victoria was pleased to signify her dis- 
tinguished appreciation of its objects, by commanding it to 
assume the title “ Royal,” and in which H.R.H. the Prince 
of Wales conferred upon it the honour of becoming its 
patron. 
During the past year the general condition of the Society 
has been one of prosperity : its members have augmented, 
its meetings have been well attended. Many subjects of 
interest have been brought forward in the papers that have 
been read before it ; the discussions thereupon have elicited 
much information of general interest and value. 
The number of new Fellows elected during the year has 
been 51 ; the number lost by death and by resignation, 6. 
In adverting to the loss this Society has sustained during 
the past year through the death of its members, I have to 
mention Dr. Ansell, Richard Beck, Dr. Lee, Dr. Hinxman ; 
and the loss to Microscopy in general, though not a member 
of this Society, of Dr. Greville. 
Thomas Ansell was a very diligent student both in London 
and Edinburgh. He graduated at the University of St. 
Andrew’s, and obtained the diploma of the Royal College of 
Surgeons of England. After this he made a voyage to China, 
and on his return settled at Bow, where he steadily pursued 
his profession and obtained a high position. He was elected 
twenty-five years ago one of the Examiners of the Society of 
Apothecaries ; and six years since he was unanimously chosen 
Chairman of the Board, and continued in this position till 
his death Under the recent Act, he was elected Officer of 
Health for Bow, in Middlesex ; and in the performance of the 
duties of that office he was distinguished for his zeal, and it 
was whilst in their discharge, at the outbreak of cholera in 
his district, in July, 1866, he died of that disease. 
He was an ardent lover of Natural History, and a good 
observer ; he was not an original contributor to Microscopical 
