The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-05 00:00:00

oured Manchester by appointing one of its most distinguished
citizens as the president for the year. (Loud applause.) It is
not your wish, nor is it mine, that you Should be detained
longer this evening; but I cannot help saying that, highly
distinguished as William Fairbairn is, amongst us he is
valued even more for his private character than for his
scientific attainments> (Cheers.) In a note I received
from him some time ago, there is one expression most
characteristic of the man. I addressed him as "Dr.
Fairbairn," and I believe I put some letters after his name.
(Laughter.) He replied, " Pray, in future, address me as
an old Dissenting minister named me many years ago—
William Fairbairn." Learned societies may add letters to
that name, may give him the dignity of a doctor, may even
make him President of the British Association ; but William
Fairbairn, the citizen of Manchester, making his own way
in the world by his own merit, distinguishing himself on
every occasion not only by his talent but by his modesty
and unassuming character, will long be remembered in this
community as one of its most distinguished ornaments.
(Applause.) He has given to you this night an address
which I am afraid very few of you would be able to hear,
for in this large hall a man even with strong lungs can.
scarcely make himself perfectly heard; but you will have
this address printed and circulated amongst the members,
for that •is the object of the motion proposed by Lord
Stanley, and which I have the greatest pleasure in second-
ing. (Applause.)

The MAYOR of Manchester (M. Curtis, Esq.) said it vas
not the least of the pleasures attached to the office he now
held, to be privileged to put this resolution to the meeting.
He called upon them to vote upon it and to adopt it with
acclamation.—The resolution was then carried amidst hearty
applause.

The PRESIDENT, in reply, said he felt deeply indebted
to the noble Lord and to Mr. Turner for the very flattering
way in which they had brought his name before the meet-
ing. He could only state this, that during the time he had.
the honour to preside in that chair, it should be his endea-
vour on every occasion not only to promote the advance-
ment of science, but to do everything to honour the science
of Manchester and its citizens. (Cheers.)
Protestor PHILLIPS, after announcing that programmes
of each day's proceedings could be obtained every morn-
ing after eight o'clock at the Portico, in Mosley-street,
stated that on Monday evening the number of tickets sold
was 684 ; on Tuesday evening, the number had increased
to 1,394; and up to one o'clock on the present day he
found that a total of 1,919 tickets had been disposed of.
They had received that evening, at eight o'clock, old life
members, who no longer paid to the society, 229; new life
members, 76, who had paid £760 ; old aunual members,
who had come back to them, 140 ; new annual members
entered, 83, contributing £166. 656 ladies' tickets had
been purchased, and the number of associates or members
for the present year was 1,194. They had, therefore, up to
eight o'clock, 2,388 members, and had received £2,916 to be
entirely devoted to the advancement of science. (Applause.)
Since 1838, except when the Prince Consort presided at the
meeting at Aberdeen, they had never had so large a register
on the openin'g day of the meeting. He was proud to see
that as many persons had come to do honour to William
Fairbairn as to the Prince Consort. (Loud cheers.)
The proceedings of the evening were they closed.