PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 1837-38. THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS, It will now be proper for me, and I can do so with much satisfaction, to request your attention to the present state of the Society, compared with that in which we found it when I was last called upon to address you. At that period, the conclusion of our first session, we had existed as a body only for about six months; a year has since passed away, and I trust that I may venture to say that the improvement of our position, as a public society, has been such as affords grounds for congratulation. The present age is distinguished by the existence of many recently formed societies, each zealously intent on investigating the objects of nature or of art, which come under its peculiar cognisance. At the same time, all of them are willing to promote, with proper feeling, the objects of each other, together with those matters which come under their joint consideration. Our great object, it must be always borne in mind, is to promote the study of Numismatics. I shall now, therefore, after a few preliminary observations, briefly record a part, at least, of the progress made in this branch. of knowledge, more particularly in connexion with our institution, since I last had the honour of addressing you; having neither the ability nor the means to prepare a complete statement of the progress of Numismatic science. even in England, and much less of that on the Continent of Europe, since our last annual meeting. With respect to our Society, I need hardly remark on the rapid progress it has made from the few original members who, less than two years ago, barely hoped that, in the course of time, such an institution might be embodied, to the numerous and highly gifted associates of whom the Society can now boast. To those zealous individuals who came voluntarily forward in the time of need to add their names to our infant association, we are peculiarly indebted for the success which, as a body, we now enjoy: while it is but due to the members who have since joined us, to mention that many of them have expressed their regret that they had not known of our intentions, as otherwise they would willingly have enrolled their names at the first onset. I could also, with propriety, refer to the important services which have been rendered by the Council, and particularly by the Secretaries, during the past year, as on former occasions. More than a simple allusion to these services may not, however, be agreeable to them. Your Council have, during the past year, proceeded according to the best of its judgment, to conduct your affairs in a kind of patriarchal state of government, and without any fixed rules or laws, trusting to your confidence and indulgence for the sanction of measures conducted under such circumstances. The rapid increase of members has, however, now called upon it to introduce some measures which, in its infant state, the Society could defer. A code of laws for our guidance thus became requisite, and a Committee was recently formed to prepare such a code. The result of their labours has been laid before the Council, and has received its approval; it is now, therefore, presented for your sanction and acceptance; and, although our Institutes may not be equal in importance to those of the Emperor Justinian, nor destined to extend over so great a dominion as that of Rome-although they may not be so comprehensive as the Institutes of Menu, nor destined to regulate the fate and happiness of millions of our fellow-creatures—although they may not be prepared with so much lucid order as the Institutes of the laws of England; still our code will, I hope, be found sufficient for all the exigencies and occurrences which may arise in the Society for the regulation of which it is intended and, in addition to the thanks of the Council, which have already been given to those meritorious members of our body, to whose attention and judgment we are indebted for these laws, the general approbation and thanks of the whole Society will, I feel assured, be most cordially awarded. : Having thus adverted to the most important of our transactions during the interval since I last had the pleasure of addressing you, I shall now proceed to mention a few circumstances in connexion with the progress of the Society, and of Numismatics generally, within that period. During the past year, our Society has been favoured with many valuable communications, which have been read at its evening meetings, and analyses of the whole of them will be printed as soon as the arrangements of the Council will permit. In addition to these manuscript communications, I am happy to announce to you that, through the liberality of some of the members, our library has received several valuable donations, of which a catalogue will be printed as early as it appears expedient. The books may, however, be seen and used by the members at their pleasure. Our collection of coins and medals has also received considerable additions during the past year, exclusively of the princely donation of Lord Prudhoe; and an interesting collection of casts of medallions of the Roman series, has been presented to the Society by a respected member, Mr. Williams. Among the distinguished foreigners whom the Society numbers with its associates, I may mention Count Maurice Von Dietrichstein, the superintendent of the Archæological and Numismatic Collection attached to the Imperial Library at Vienna-a gentleman whose services to literature, and whose obliging attentions to our countrymen, are too well known to need any encomium on my part; and the Society is indebted to him for the gift of a medal of the Abbate Joseph Eckhel, which was struck to commemorate the first secular festival in honour of that great Numismatist, whom, as Englishmen, we may fairly denominate the Newton of numismatic science. Since the concluding meeting of the previous season, the Society has to lament the loss of several valuable members; and, among them, that of Mr. Matthew Young. This gentleman was personally so well known to most of those whom I am now addressing, as to render any remarks from me almost unnecessary; but the decease of a person of such known merit cannot be noticed in this place without its due tribute of respect. Mr. Young was the son of a dealer in medals, who resided for some years on Ludgate Hill. He was born on the 6th of October, 1771, and from youth became a collector of coins and medals, though his father intended to have established him as a goldsmith. After his father's decease, he was enabled to follow the bent of his inclinations, and became a very distinguished dealer in coins. His urbanity, judgment, and experience, * Engraved by Luigi Manfredini, chief engraver of the Imperial Mint at Milan, from a drawing by Pietro Fandi, draughtsman and engraver to the Royal and Imperial Museum. |