Report of Society's Meetings. 427 
reaching a high standard, which all will acknowledge who 
know the difficulties that have to be surmounted before 
the current number is sent to the printer. A word of 
recognition is also due to the same gentleman, for his 
learned little disquisitions on natural objects exhibited 
occasionally at the monthly meetings. These brief but 
pleasant episodes form attra6live breaks to the regular 
business of the meetings and are much appreciated by 
many, doubtless adding a general interest to the pro- 
ceedings of the Society with which they are identified. 
Gentlemen, I think I have shown that the balance is on 
the right side, there is a score to the credit of the concern ; 
but the Society is still in a transition stage and requires 
well directed effort to keep it, in all its many aspects* 
well on the path of progress. I think a wise selection 
of officers for 1889 has been made, and I have no fear 
but that under the guiding hand of our President-elect, an 
exceedingly good record will have been written in 
twelve months from to-day. 
Seeing how much, to use an Americanism, he has 
bossed the machine this year, he will feel like President 
Grant when he entered on his second term of office, and 
you too will feel that you have an experienced pilot at 
the helm. 
I am exceedingly obliged to you for your patience in 
listening to my resume of the transactions of the Society 
during the year of Grace, 1888. 
The Secretary then read the following extract from 
one of Mr. Walker's letters : — 
I am glad to note that the Society is disposed to take a more liberal 
view than heretofore of the scope of topics for discussion at its meetings. 
It seerns to me by no means difficult to draw a line at discussions whjch 
3H 
