The President's Address.
105
strongly, and the Cryptogamic Botany of this country was
powerfully represented in the persons of our conductors
and visitors, whilst French science did us the honour of
recognizing our meeting in the person of the eminent
botanist Professor Maxime Cornu, of Paris. So successful
was this meeting in the opinion of our leaders that we have
determined to make an annual institution of it, and I only
hope that for many years to come we may rally around the
same able conductors.
The next point to which I propose to direct your atten-
tion is the existing state of affairs with reference to our
Library and Museum. These are still in a rudimentary
condition, but a fair start has been made, and many dona-
tions of books, periodicals, and specimens have been
received during the year. The prospects of seeing ourselves
established in a building of our own appear to be as yet
remote, but a timely offer of assistance has come from the
proprietors of the Art Classes, to whose kindness we are
indebted for the use of the apartments where we now hold
our meetings. Two rooms in this house have been allotted
to the Club for the Library and Museum, and the Council
has resolved that a certain portion of the funds arising
from life-subscriptions shall be expended for the legitimate
purpose of putting up such fittings as are considered suffi-
cient to meet our present requirements. We are thus in a
better position to make an appeal for donations, and I
cannot too strongly urge upon our members the necessity
for using every effort in their power to assist in the further-
ing of this object. If it is made generally known that we
have accommodation for books and specimens, I have no
doubt but that many contributions will be forthcoming;
and when we are able to show that a good nucleus exists,
scientific writers will be encouraged to place copies of their
works on our shelves, where they know that good use will
be made of them, or to present us with collections which
they desire to keep local, and which they may feel assured
will be well looked after.
The various books presented have been announced
at our meetings, and the thanks of the Club have been