Address at meeting for inauguration of the Thirty-first Session

Abstract

My Lords and gentlemen, I thank you very much for the high honour you have conferred on me by electing me your President. That position has heretofore been filled by eminent men, whose zeal and earnestness in the promotion of the objects of this useful Society it will be my fondest ambition to emulate, although distrust of my own abilities makes me diffident to follow in their footsteps. I greatly regret that circumstances prevent my much esteemed friend, Mr. Thorn, from filling the chair I now occupy, but I trust that before long he will find time to do so and give us the advantage of his knowledge and vast experience. Our Society, founded in 1847, now celebrates its thirtieth anniversary, and we may well look back with pleasure to the good already effected through its influence, as well as with confidence to the future benefits which may be expected to result from its exertions in the time to come.