43 
J. A. Fraser, Esq., M.D., I.G.H. — It is now my duty, as well as my 
privilege, to be permitted to move our thanks to one whom I may well call 
one of our very oldest friends. (Applause.) Of the few pleasures we meet 
with in the evening of life, none is greater than to be able to see and 
recognise old faces and old friends, and it is with the greatest pleasure, I 
am sure (although it is said that public bodies have no hearts), that every 
heart here, in its individual, if not in its corporate capacity, will respond to a 
proposition which says how very grateful we are to Lord Shaftesbury for his 
kindness in again meeting us here, and devoting to the work of this 
Institute a portion of the time upon which such great demands are made 
by his very numerous daily, and I might almost say, hourly avocations. 
(Applause.) We find his lordship coming among us year after year, and 
we hope again on many occasions yet to meet him among us when the oppor- 
tunity will permit of his attendance. (Hear, hear.) It is, therefore, with 
great pleasure that I have to move : — “ That the thanks of the meeting be 
presented to our respected President.” (Applause.) 
T. K. Callard, Esq., F.G-.S. — I have great pleasure in seconding the 
resolution, and I would only add long may the life of our President be 
spared, and may he preside over our annual meetings for many years to 
come, with all that vigour 'of mind and body in which we see him this 
evening. (Applause.) 
The resolution was carried with applause. 
The Right Hon. the Earl of Shaftesbury, K.G., President. — Allow 
me to say that often as I have thanked you very sincerely for the vote you 
have just been pleased to repeat, you must allow me to observe that I really 
cannot see by what right I continue to occupy the position I have now the 
honour to hold. Unhappily for myself, I have not had the leisure to 
become a man of science, it would have given me much pleasure indeed 
to have devoted my heart and mind to studies that might tend to the benefit 
of the human race ; but I have been called to another sphere, and have not 
had leisure except to pick* up some of the knowledge obtained by others, 
and to enjoy it in such a way as might best advantage me. But to occupy 
my present position is, I think, a little beyond the right to which I might 
lay claim, and I have only this consolation : I was among the first who 
founded this Society. (Applause.) I remember that the first meeting we 
held was attended by about six persons. It was held in a back room in 
Sackville-street, where my good and excellent friend Mr. Mitchell delivered, 
not the “annual address,” as it was the primary “address,” and ever since 
then I have been connected with the Society. (Applause.) Then we were 
a small body, and new support was valuable ; but now you have assumed 
gigantic proportions, quite capable of holding your own and keeping it 
against all the rest of the societies in London. I do not think I am fit to 
hold position, because there are men of vastly superior attainments, to whom 
the honour is more justly due. We were at the time I have spoken of 
entirely on the defensive, and I remember that the one great reason given 
for the foundation of the Society was that we wished to uphold and 
