452 ANNUAL REPORT, 1875 - 6 . 
meeting.* The Committee hope that the gold medal will then be ready 
for presentation. 
6. The French and German Classes held at the Institution have been 
well attended. There have also been Classes in Russian, Hindustani, 
Drawing, and Mathematics. 
A Grerman Class has also been formed amongst the members of the 
R.A. Institution in Dublin, the Institution bearing two-thirds of the 
expense, in accordance with Rule XIX., passed at the last annual 
meeting. 
The Committee took upon themselves to authorise the retention of 
the Russian Instructor’s services through the winter, even in the case of 
the number in the Class falling below the minimum fixed by the Rules. 
The Committee took this step to prevent officers wishing to study 
this important and difficult language being deterred by the fear of 
being left in the lurch after a few lessons, by the breaking up of the 
Class. 
The Class consists at present of only two officers. The Committee 
leave it to the general meeting to decide whether it shall be continued. 
7. Captain Clayton, R.A., has presided at weekly meetings for the 
study of tactical problems, which have been held during the winter in 
the Institution. 
The Committee consider that the best thanks of the members are due 
to Captain Clayton for his very valuable instruction on this subject. 
8. Last year Lt.-Col. G. G. Pearse was specially thanked for his 
services in arranging the collection of coins. This year the obligations 
of the members to this officer have been increased by a very valuable 
present of Bactrian coins. 
The present was accompanied by a letter, in which Lt.-Col. Pearse 
expressed the hope that officers serving in the Punjab might be induced 
to follow suit, and that in time an interesting Greco-Bactrian cabinet 
might be formed—a hope which the Committee cordially endorse. 
9. Very valuable presents to the Natural History Museum have been 
made during the year by Colonel Cadell, R.A., Major Cameron, R.A., 
H.M. Commissioner for North American Boundaries, and by Mr. 
Whitely, the son of our Curator. (Vide list of presentations in the 
Appendix “E.”) 
10. The Committee beg also to call the attention of the meeting to 
the handsome edition of Mr. Buskin’s works presented to the Institution 
by the author. The presentation was accompanied by a letter in which 
Mr. Ruskin stated that he had directed his publishers to forward to 
the R.A. Institution copies of any future works he might issue. 
* The report of the referees was read to the meeting, stating that they were unanimous in 
pronouncing the essay bearing the motto “ Vis consili expers mole ruit sua ” the best of those 
submitted. On opening the sealed envelope, Colonel H. A. Smyth was found to be the author 
of this essay. 
