33 
Admiral E. G. Fishbourne, C.B., E.N. — I have to propose a vote of 
thanks to our noble President, and I do so with great pleasure, knowing 
the immense support he has been to this Institute. (Cheers.) I question 
very much whether it would have been in existence if he had not 
thrown himself as cordially as he did into its work by consenting to take 
the position of President. But we are not only indebted to him for his past 
services, but also for his presence here to-night, and I am sure you will 
accord your thanks to him with all the more sincerity when I tell you that 
this is the third meeting he has attended to-day. (Hear, hear.) His Lord- 
ship took the chair at a Harrow meeting this morning ; he subsequently 
occupied a similar position at a meeting in behalf of the Zenana Mission ; 
and he is now here, presiding over this meeting. (Cheers.) 
Pev. F. C. Cook, D.D. — I almost owe an apology to the meeting 
for taking upon myself to say what every member of this Institute would 
have said with equal sincerity, namely, that I have great pleasure in 
seconding the vote of thanks to our noble President. He has been 
permitted to see many of the societies he has founded arrive at a mature 
and healthy age, and must be rejoiced to see how this Institute has in- 
creased and prospered under his presidency; but at this hour of the 
evening I will not take up the time of the meeting by saying anything more 
than that I am glad to have the opportunity of seconding the motion. 
The motion was carried amid general aijplause. 
The President. — It has been my lot very frequently to receive a vote of 
thanks for presiding in this chair, and I have often thought it my duty to 
say that I did not deserve anything of the kind, inasmuch as I do not think 
I am “the right man in the right place.” I accepted the position of 
President only because I was one of the founders of this Institute. I 
remember the time when, in a back room in Savile-row, Mr. Mitchell 
delivered an Address to a very scanty audience, and it was from that small 
beginning that this Society has gone on until it has attained its present 
proportions. But still the Institute is not indebted to me in any way, 
either for my exertions or scientific attainments, or for any fiitness I may 
possess, to occupy such a post. I can only attribute what the Institute has 
been pleased to do with regard to myself to the old habit which is so essen- 
tially characteristic of Englishmen. We are so very conservative that we 
cherish even an abuse for a long time, and do not give it up until it is posi- 
tively wrenched from us ; and this is the only ground on which I can conceive 
why I have retained the occupancy of this chair. I must, however, congratulate 
you on the progress the Institute has made, on the great effects it has been 
enabled to produce, and the constant persevering and patient way in which 
it is holding on its course, and will, under God’s blessing, be enabled to 
resist a great deal of the error and mischief with which at the present day 
the opponents of the truth are deluging the land. Our noble lecturer. 
Lord O’Neill, at the end of his Address this evening, urged very strongly 
VOL. XVI. 
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