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III. Lieutenant-General Sir H. J. W. BENTINCK, K.C.B.—

GENTLEMEN,-You have all heard the Report which has just been read, and I need not take up your time by making a speech upon the subject; I will therefore only request that this Report be adopted and printed for circulation among the Members.

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I have received a communication from Commander Gardiner, R.N., respecting the expense of printing the Journal. Perhaps, as a point of form, I ought to read it before this Resolution is put :

"I protest against the accounts being passed as they now stand.

"Ist. Because the expenses attending the printing and issuing of a periodical called 'The Journal,' for the use of a minority of the Members, are charged in the general accounts of the Corporation.

"2nd. Because this Journal is not self-supporting, the consequence is that the nonsubscribers to the Journal (that is, the majority of the Members of the Corporation) are made to pay the difference, which difference appears to be as follows:

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£ 8. d. 659 2 9

162 18 10

822 1 7

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I will now put the first Resolution: "That the Report now read be adopted."

W. STIRLING LACON, Esq.

I am very sorry, Mr. Chairman, that General Lindsay, who could have answered this question most thoroughly, is not here, having been called away suddenly last night. He was in possession of the whole of the information on the subject. Commander Gardiner states in that protest that the cost of the Journal is £659. Now I find that the number of Members who have increased their subscriptions from 10s. to £1 is 1,327, which of course at 10s. is £663 10s. Thirty Life Members have also increased their Subscriptions 10s. per annum, making a total increase of £678 10s. Therefore the sum of money which the Institution gets by these increased subscriptions is £19 108. more than the cost of the Journal.* (Hear, hear.)

The Resolution was put and carried unanimously.

IV. The names of eight Members retiring from the COUNCIL were read as follows:

Lieut.-Colonel READ.

Captain PACKE.

Lieut.-Colonel KEPPEL.

Capt. SIR W. WISEMAN, Bart. R.N.

J. BARROW, Esq. F.R.S.
Major-General WATKINS.
Captain TYLER, R.E.
Major PORTER, R.E.

For particulars of the relative cost and advantages of the Journal, Members are referred to the speech of General Lindsay at the General Meeting in 1861, Vol. IV. page 9, and to the fact that the Journal is supplied free of cost to all Members, of both Services, serving abroad, without any increase of their subscriptions.--ED.

Colonel WILBRAHAM, C.B.

MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN, I beg to propose the second Resolution, which is to this effect: "That the thanks of this Meeting be given to the Members of the COUNCIL Who retire by rotation, and that the following Members be elected to fill the vacancies :

Captain PACKE.

Captain TYLER, R.E.

Major PORTER, R.E.

For
Re-election.

Captain PETRIE, 14th Reg. Topog. Staff.
Captain MALTON, Dumfriesshire Militia.

Captain F. CRAUFURD, R.N.

Captain Sir JOHN HAY, Bart., R.N., C.B.,
M.P.

Captain TARLETON, R.N., C.B., A.D.C. to
the Queen.

It is unnecessary to make any remarks, except just to say that the progress which this Institution has made, shows how well the Members of the COUNCIL have deserved the thanks which are proposed to them. (Applause.)

Major SUTHERLAND—

I beg to second the Resolution.

The Resolution was then put from the Chair and unanimously carried.

V. Rear-Admiral Sir GEORGE BACK, D.C.L.—

I beg to propose that the thanks of this Meeting be given to the Auditors for their valuable services, and that the following gentlemen be elected for the ensuing year:—

THOS. SMITH, Esq.

Captain J. E. A. DOLBY.

H. F. DOWNES, Esq.
HENRY ELLIOTT, Esq. (re-elected).

I beg leave to say that more efficient Auditors could not be found.

Captain SWEENY, R.N.—

In seconding this Resolution, I most cheerfully and willingly acknowledge the benefits and advantages of the services afforded us by the Auditors of this valuable Institution. While doing so I must take the liberty of expressing I am sure not only my individual obligation, but the general feeling of gratitude which exists to the Right Honourable the Secretary for War, who has done us the favour of presiding on this occasion.

The Resolution was put from the Chair and carried unanimously.

VI. The CHAIRMAN—

There are some proposed alterations in the Laws of the Institution, which the Secretary will read.

The SECRETARY-

The proposed alteration in the Laws, section II., para. 1, is that," After the words 'and Volunteer Corps,' the following words be inserted: 'Also the Master, Deputy Master, and Elder Brethren of the Trinity House shall be entitled to become Members without ballot, on payment of the Entrance Fee and Annual Subscription.'"

Colonel YORKE, F.R.S.

Mr. CHAIRMAN, notice of that Resolution has been given by the COUNCIL, according to the rules, but since putting up that Resolution in the rooms of the Institution it has been found by the COUNCIL that it would be more consistent with our rules as they

stand to make a slight amendment. It has been thought better to bring in the Master and Elder Brethren of the Trinity House in the 2nd paragraph of the 2nd section, instead of the 1st. The reason for that is, that the 1st paragraph relates to individuals who all of them hold commissions under the Queen, and they are admissible without ballot, whereas the 2nd paragraph relates to other functionaries who are eligible to become Members by ballot. That comprises the whole of the alteration. I therefore beg to propose an amendment to that Resolution, notice of which has been given; and it would stand in this way, that the words "The Master, Deputy Master, and Elder Brethren of the Trinity House," be inserted after the words " Military Departments," in paragraph 2, section II., instead of in paragraph 1.

W. S. LACON, Esq.

I beg to second the Amendment.

The CHAIRMAN

Probably the best course would be to withdraw the first motion altogether, and to put your motion. That would effect your object.

The Amendment proposed by Colonel YORKE was then put to the Meeting, and carried unanimously.

The CHAIRMAN

There is another Amendment in section vi. paragraph 5: "That, instead of the words and estimate of the probable expense for the ensuing year shall be printed and circulated among the Members,' the following words be inserted and estimate of the probable receipts and expenditure for the ensuing year shall be printed and placed in the Library and Reading Rooms, and may be obtained by the Members upon application to the Secretary.'

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Captain FISHBOURNE, R.N. C.B.

The object of that Resolution is to prevent the necessity of a large expenditure that is quite useless-viz., sending the Reports before the Annual Meeting to the Members. The Report will be sent after the General Meeting; the Members will receive them just the same, but at half the expense to the Institution.

The Resolution was put from the Chair, and carried unanimously.

The CHAIRMAN announced that the business of the Meeting was ended.

(Signed)

G. C. LEWIS, Chairman.
B. BURGESS, Capt., Sec.

Captain FISHBourne

I beg to propose that Sir John Burgoyne do take the Chair.

The Chair was then taken by General Sir JOHN BURGOYNE, Bart. G.C.B. R.E.

General Sir JOHN AITCHISON, K.C.B.

GENTLEMEN.-A Resolution has been put in my hands, which I will now read, and which I am quite sure will receive the very cordial support of the Meeting. It is :— "That the thanks of this Meeting be given to the Right Hon. Sir George Cornewall Lewis, for his kindness in presiding in the Chair." (Applause.)

It must be gratifying to every old Member of this Institution to see that it has now

taken the place which it was always hoped it might-namely, that of a National Institution. When the War Minister, who presides so beneficially for both Services, and gives an earnest of following the steps of his predecessor, meets us upon this occasion, I am quite sure that you will realize all the expectations which you can possibly have made of any officer of the Government in his position. We have to thank him; for in the first place he was most punctual to the hour-in the next place he has been very economical in the time, by suggesting the reading over the totals of the amounts, instead of the details. I, therefore, move that the cordial thanks of this Meeting be given to the Chairman.

Colonel R. A. SHAFTO ADAIR, F.R.S.

I am quite sure that, in rising to second the motion that has been proposed by the gallant General-of thanks to the Right Hon. Gentleman who has done us the honour of presiding this day-that I shall carry with me the whole feeling of the Meeting. In regard, first of all, to his official character, we rejoice on all occasions to see amongst us the representatives of a Government which has extended so liberal a support to this Institution, which was established by the officers of both Services in their private capacity. And, indeed, I am sure it is to the Meeting a subject of additional gratification, that the Right Hon. Gentleman has not contented himself with simply an official supervision, so to speak, but that he has made himself acquainted with the reasons which justified us in suggesting, and Her Majesty's Government in giving, support to this Institution. He has visited this Institution on several occasions, and I am quite sure that he has received the impressions which we desire to convey-that in this Institution we form a nucleus for the scientific contributions of Her Majesty's Forces by land and sea throughout the globe. For I take it to be of immense value that in this centre-this military centre as we may say, as well as commercial centre of England-in this military centre every officer has the means of referring, as far as our powers have yet extended, to the records of former times, and to those contributions which occasionally we receive from officers associated with the Services. I have had occasion before to refer, and I will refer again for one moment, to the great advantage we derive from such contributions. All officers-especially those familiar with our Indian wars-will recollect how many occasions there have been within their knowledge when contributions of a scientific character from military officers in India, and also from those officers who have taken part in expeditions into neighbouring countries in the East, would have been of infinite value to us. I have seen plans made by travellers across the snowy ranges of the Himalaya, and in various other directions, which may be of exceeding value hereafter, should warlike operations necessitate our referring to such a source, or peaceful operations by which we may propose to extend our commerce. This has constituted an object of the Institution, and I am glad to find that Her Majesty's Government has been disposed to recognise it; and I cannot but think, that the more the official members of Her Majesty's Government have the opportunity of seeing the way in which the patronage of the Government is laid out, the more they will acknowledge that we do not in any degree abuse the trust they have placed I have especial satisfaction also in seconding the Vote that the thanks of the Meeting be given to the Right Hon. Gentleman, because, dependent as all branches of both Services are on the thorough appreciation of, on the results of, the exact sciences, there is perhaps no official gentleman whose previous training has more fitted him for office, or who gives more frequent-I may almost say daily-proof of the attention he has paid to these exact sciences than the Right Hon. Gentleman to whom I now second the Vote of Thanks.

in us.

The CHAIRMAN

GENTLEMEN.-It is unnecessary to go through the form of holding up your hands to this Resolution. I assume that it is passed by acclamation. (Applause.)

Sir GEORGE CORNEWALL LEWIS

SIR JOHN BURGOYNE AND GENTLEMEN. In rising to thank you for the honour which you have done me in passing this motion of thanks, I will only say that, ring the short period in which I have held my present office, it has given me great

satisfaction to contribute, so far as I have been able, to the well-being of this Institution, the character of which I fully appreciate. I recognise the usefulness of the design, and as long as I retain my office I shall feel great satisfaction in doing anything in my power which may contribute to the prosperity of the Institution. I have great gratification in saying that the benefits of the relations between this Institution and the Government have not been one-sided; but that the Government on a late occasion received assistance from this Society, by some information with respect to a part in North America, at a time when we contemplated the unhappy event of a rupture with the United States. That danger, I am happy to say, has now passed over, and we look forward to uninterrupted peace and amity with that important Power; at the same time we feel the advantage which we derived from having access to the wellstored special library of this Institution, furnishing us with information of which the Government may, at a moment of emergency, not be in possession (cheers). Gentlemen, in hearing this Report read, there is much which is cheering with regard to the operation and prospects of this Institution; but there is a melancholy list which the obituary of its Members contains. In the first place there is the much revered name of the Prince Consort, who was a Patron of this Institution, who was also a benefactor of the Institution, and who took an especial interest in all that concerned military science and the perfecting of the organization both of the Army and the Navy. There is no person who ever had the honour of being in familiar relation with his Royal Highness, who is not aware how much of his thoughts were bestowed upon these important subjects, and how great the proficiency which he had made in the scientific study of all that concerned the organization of the Army and Navy. Sir, I really believe that if it had so happened that his Royal Highness had entered the Army or Navy as a subaltern, he would have risen to the greatest distinction in either branch of the service, and I think I shall meet with assent 'from all persons who know, by intercourse with him, the great ability of his Royal Highness, his remarkable power of mastering all practical subjects, and his great skill in all that related to the manipulation both of Military and Naval matters, when I say that if his lot had been cast in a private station of life, and if he had entered any profession without any external advantages whatever, he would, simply by his own exertions, have risen to the head of that profession (cheers). That is a remark which I think every person who was acquainted with his Royal Highness must assent to, and which, I believe, must be admitted to be a very rare tribute of praise to be conferred on any person in that elevated sphere of life.

Well, Sir, besides his Royal Highness, we have to lament the death of Sir Howard Douglas, who certainly died at a very mature age, but who was a most distinguished officer, and who rose by his services to the highest rank in his own profession, and who also enriched the military literature of his country by valuable scientific treatises (cheers). Besides Sir Howard Douglas, the Society has peculiarly to lament my predecessor in office, of whom, indeed, I feel myself an unworthy successor; I mean the late Lord Herbert. Lord Herbert, with an ample fortune, and with great social powers, and under many circumstances which might have tempted a person of less ardent mind to abstain from the labour which he underwent, had thoroughly mastered the whole mechanism of the Army; he knew it, as few persons who have not the advantage of a professional life ever do know such a subject. He had devoted a large portion of his thoughts and time to the amelioration of our military system; all persons, I think, who have watched his career, both in oflice and in Parliament, must be aware how diligently he had studied that subject, and with how constant and eager a zeal he pursued what he considered to be the amelioration and increase of the efficiency of the Army (cheers).

Well, Sir, after Lord Herbert we must lament the death of another distinguished Member of this Institution-I mean the late Sir James Graham. Sir James Graham, although a man more advanced in life than Lord Herbert, died still far from the natural term of his existence; and his death was sudden. He is also deeply to be lamented by all those who wished to see in Parliament a man who was thoroughly acquainted with naval and military subjects. His acquaintance with naval subjects was owing to his having been twice First Lord of the Admiralty. But he had likesise devoted much attention to military subjects, and presided in nearly the last year of his life over an important Committee of the House of Commons on matters of military organization. He was well versed in all that concerned the system of our Army. There is another name which I ought not to pass over, inasmuch as he was an active

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