LINNEAN SOCIETT OF LONDOK. XIX 



rival. But I will not trouble you by a recapitulation of the ob- 

 servations which I made on this fact last year ; I recur to it prin- 

 cipally to show that the two characters in which the Zoological 

 Society appeals to the public are essentially different, and that 

 there is no more congruity in such an association, than there would 

 be if the Horticultural Society were now to attempt to combine 

 with that useful practical character which has rendered it so de- 

 servedly popular, a more purely scientific element, and, usurping 

 the functions of our own botanical department, receive and pub- 

 lish such papers as now find their place in our own Transactions. 

 With respect to other Societies having the same relation to 

 ours as regards their objects, a similar course, mutatis mutandis, 

 might be adopted ; but it is unnecessary that I should further 

 take up your time by suggesting details, the discussion of which, 

 whatever might be the result of the consideration of the general 

 principle, would at present be wholly premature. 



The great importance of the object of these observations pre- 

 vents me from wholly passing over two other ideas which have 

 occurred to my mind, and, in various modifications, to the minds 

 of others, but which at present appear so impracticable, and to 

 require for their fulfilment so large a change in the present work- 

 ing of the Society, that I cannot for a moment entertain them 

 as worthy of serious discussion. In the first place, it has been 

 questioned whether the desirable result of bringing those conge- 

 nial Societies, which are now separated from us, within our own 

 sphere, might not be obtained by offering to those of their exist- 

 ing members who have been such for a given number of years, 

 the remission or reduction of the entrance fee, supposing that, on 

 being proposed and balloted for, they should be elected as Fellows 

 of this Society. The other proposal has been, to form a new body 

 of Associates, for the admission of such persons as, cultivating any 

 branch of Natural History, are willing to join our Society, paying 

 a smaller annual contribution, and having limited advantages. I 

 do not enter into any detailed plan as connected with either of 

 these proposals, because I do not believe that it would be possible 

 or desirable to carry them out ; but I thought it my duty to lay 

 before you whatever had occurred to myself or others, as a means 

 for obviating the difficulty in which the present state of things 

 has placed us. 



I must repeat, that I consider the serious imperative mission 

 of this Society, as the centre of Natural History Science in this 

 country, to consist in taking every available means, honestly and 



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