the consequence of hardships endured and bodily and mental powers overstrained, in the cause of science and of that profession to which through life he was so earnestly devoted. The Chair was, however, left vacant in the hope of his speedy recovery, and on this hope being to some extent fulfilled, he was unanimously elected, and entered with his usual zeal on the duties of that honourable position. This was in 1855 in May of the following year he delivered his Presidential Address at the Anniversary Meeting of the Society, and this was his last conspicuous public duty. His health, notwithstanding his partial recovery, was permanently broken, and a renewed attack of illness terminated his useful life on the 29th of November, 1856, in the sixty-first year of his age.

It may be long before we are called on to record public services of nearly half a century more ably, earnestly, and usefully performed than those of Admiral Beechey. On his private virtues this is not the occasion to expatiate; it will suffice here to say that he was a sincere Christian, and a gentleman in the best sense of the term, and that through life he was supported by a firm trust in Providence, and actuated by a single-minded determination at all times to do his duty.

Admiral Beechey married, in 1828, Charlotte, youngest daughter of Colonel Stapleton, of Thorpe Lee, Surrey, and has left several children.

On the motion of Sir Benjamin Brodie, seconded by the Rev. Professor Powell, the best thanks of the Society were voted to the President for his excellent address, and his Lordship was requested to permit the same to be printed.

The Statutes relating to the election of Officers and Council having been read, and Dr. Gray and Professor Bell having been, with the consent of the Society, nominated Scrutators, the votes of the Fellows present were collected.

The following Noblemen and Gentlemen were reported duly elected Officers and Council for the ensuing year :—

President.-The Lord Wrottesley, M.A.

Treasurer.-Major-General Edward Sabine, R.A., D.C.L.

Secretaries.

William Sharpey, M.D.

George Gabriel Stokes, Esq., M.A., D.C.L.

Foreign Secretary.-William Hallows Miller, Esq., M.A. Other Members of the Council.-James Moncrieff Arnott, Esq. ; William Benjamin Carpenter, M.D.; Arthur Cayley, Esq.; The Very Rev. The Dean of Ely; William Fairbairn, Esq.; Arthur Farre, M.D.; William Robert Grove, Esq., M.A.; Joseph Dalton Hooker, M.D.; William Hopkins, Esq., M.A.; William Allen Miller, M.D.; Lyon Playfair, Esq., C.B., Ph.D.; Rev. Bartholomew Price, M.A.; Sir James Clark Ross, Capt. R.N., D.C.L.; Rear-Admiral W. H. Smyth, D.C.L.; John Stenhouse, LL.D.; John Tyndall, Esq., Ph.D.

The following Table shows the progress and present state of the Society with respect to the number of Fellows :

Statement of the Receipts and Payments of the Royal Society between November 30, 1855, and December 1, 1856.

Ditto Miscellaneous.

Estates and Property of the Royal Society, including Trust Fund.
Estate at Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire (55 a. 2 r. 2 p.), £116 168.

Postage, Miscellaneous and Petty Charges

Balance in the hands of the Treasurer

Professor Thomson desires to make the following corrections::-

Vol. VII. Page 394, line 6 from foot, dele half.