PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 
169 
The text of the Message, as follows, was then read : — 
“ Royal Microscopical Society, 
20, Hanover Square, W. 
“ The President, Council, and Fellows of the Royal Micro- 
“ scopical Society desire to express their sympathy with their 
“ Patron in the great trouble and loss that has befallen him, and 
“ they dutifully beg to offer their sincerest condolence to His 
“ Royal Highness and to his family on the sad and sudden death 
“ of his eldest son.” 
The President having expressed the opinion that the terms of this 
message of condolence would commend themselves to the feelings of all 
who had heard it read, submitted it to the meeting, and it was adopted. 
Prof. Bell then read the Report of the Council for the past year, as 
follows : — 
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 
Fellows . — During the year 1891, thirty-six new Fellows were elected, 
fifteen have died, and thirty-eight resigned ; the considerable increase in 
the number of resignations is explained by the Treasurer’s efforts to 
obtain subscriptions due to the Society from Fellows who have ceased to 
interest themselves in its affairs. 
Three Honorary Fellows, Dr. Henry Bowman Brady, Dr. Carl 
Wilhelm von Nageli, and Prof. Joseph Leidy died ; the vacant places 
have been supplied by the election of Prof. Herrman Fol, of Nice, the 
distinguished embryologist, Prof. Sir Joseph Lister, whose scientific 
investigations into the minuter forms of life have effected a revolution in 
surgery, Prof. Thomas Henry Huxley, of whose work it is unnecessary 
to remind the Fellows of this Society, and Dr. Edward Bornet, of Paris, 
well known for his writings on Algae. 
The list of Fellows now contains the names of G45 Ordinary, 
1 Corresponding, 50 Honorary, and 89 Ex-officio, or a total of 785. 
The late Secretary . — Although the Society has already expressed tho 
deep regret which it felt at the death of Mr. John Mayall, jun., 
the Council cannot but again, in reviewing the year’s work, remind tho 
Fellows of the many valuable services which their late Secretary 
rendered to the Society, and put on record here their sense of the great 
loss which Mr. Mayall’s death inflicted on microscopical science. 
Finances.-— Owing to the exertions of the Treasurer, the annual 
revenue from subscriptions has been increased by 7 9Z. Is. 10d., but this 
increase must be regarded as abnormal, owing to the resignations of 
various Fellows already alluded to. 
The Council note with great satisfaction the increased sale of the 
Journal, there being an increase of 62 1. over that of last year. 
Insurance . — With the assent of the Council the Treasurer has in- 
creased the Fire Insurance policy of the Society from 1500Z. to 2000Z., 
and at the same time has effected a considerable reduction in the pre- 
mium paid thereon, so that the Society is now paying a smaller premium 
for a larger amount insured. 
Booms . — When the negotiations now in progress with the Society’s 
1892. N 
