Dn. Smitn’s Introductory Difcour/e. SI 
tion, dread every approach towards perfeétion in others. All who 
purfue the fame ftudies fhould labour together for the common 
good: every degree of afliftance, every deferved commendation 
which they give to each other, is the moft probable means of ad- 
vancing their own fame; while every atom of ufurped honour, if it 
does not immediately cover its vain poffeffor with opprobrium, is 
almoft certain to be deducted with intereft from his character by a 
difcerning and impartial pofterity. 
Jt now only remains for me to point out what I conceive to be 
the peculiar objeéts of our prefent inftitution. I need not enforce 
the propriety of each of us endeavouring to promote as much as 
poffible the main ends of our undertaking, and to contribute all in 
our power to the general ftock of knowledge. ‘Thefe are indifpenfa- 
ble obligations upon all who aflociate themfelves with any literary. 
fociety. Thofe who do not comply with them incur difgrace in- 
ftead of honour, for a title is but a reproach to thofe who do not 
deferve it; nor can they have a fhare in the reputation of a fociety, 
who never in any manner contributed to its advancement. 
Befides an attention to natural hiftory in general, a peculiar re- 
gard to the productions of our own country may be expected from 
us. We have yet much to learn concerning many plants, which 
authors copy from one another as the produce of Great Britain, 
but which few have feen; and our animal productions are ftill lefs 
underftood. Whatever relates to the hiftory of thefe, their ceco- 
nomy in the general plan of nature, or their ufe to man in parti- 
cular, is a proper objeét for our enquiries. Of the productions of 
our own country we ought to make ourfelves perfectly mafters, as 
no natural objeét can any where be ftudied half fo well as in its 
native foil. This however not being always practicable, botanic 
gardens and cabinets of natural hiftory have been invented, in 
which the produétions of the moft diftant climes are brought at 
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