It does not appear to be at present a matter of fixed precedent whether the Annual Meeting of the Mineralogical Society should or should not be associated with the delivery of a Presidential Address ; and I had hoped, knowing how slightare my claims to the honour which you have conferred upon me, to have escaped until I give place to a worthier successor. But our Honorary Secretary has intimated to me that he would prefer 'a few remarks' and as I feel so strongly the obligations under which he has placed the Society by the free gift of his valuable time, his will is law to me.