secretaries' report. 
11 
The Annual Excursion, which was intended to be held at Oke- 
hampton, for Cosdon Beacon, Belstone Cleave, &c, on the 26th 
June, did not take place. 
At the Anniversary Meeting, held on the 1st May, and which 
was well attended, the following short papers were read and 
discussed, viz. : 
" Some Notes on Neglected Biographies." 
Mr. R. N. Worth. 
" Remarks on the Method of determining the Velocities of Rotating 
Cylinders by means of connecting them with Vibrating Timing 
Forks." (Authors, Lieut. Clarke and Professor McLeod.) 
Mr. R. Bishop. 
" The Tellurium, exhibited and explained." 
Mr. F. J. Webb. 
A Conversazione, which was well attended, was held on the 9th 
of January, 1879, at which was exhibited a fine collection of oil 
and water-colour paintings by local artists, mostly members of the 
Institution. There were also many photographs, engravings, 
microscopes, &c, and curiosities from Cyprus, lent by Lieut. 
McGuire Bate, r.e. The vestibule and hall were tastefully decorated 
with evergreens and rare plants, kindly lent for the occasion. 
The Curator of Fine Arts reports : 
"A very interesting drawing in water colours has been added to 
the collection of pictures already in the hall, that of a portrait of 
an old and much-esteemed member, the late George Wightwick. 
It has been presented to the Institution by his widow, through the 
interest of Mr. William Eastlake and your Curator. I could have 
wished that this picture had been in oils, to be placed with those 
we already possess of the members who were his contemporaries. 
It may be remarked that this being the first present of a water- 
colour drawing, it should be looked on with additional interest, as 
being perhaps the nucleus of a collection in that department of art. 
I am further of opinion that if there were wall space in the 
Athenaeum works of art would be forthcoming by loan and gift 
that would soon form a permanent exhibition." 
The Curator of Geology and Mineralogy reports : 
" During the past year the work of rearranging the geological 
cases (which was commenced in anticipation of the visit of the 
