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Address to the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, read at the Anni- 

 versary Meeting, September 18. 1844. By P. J. Sblbt, Esq., 

 of Twizell House. 



Gentlemen, 



Your kind partiality having a second time placed me in the dis- 

 tinguished situation of President of the Club, I again, at this our 

 Anniversary Meeting, and in conformity with established custom, 

 find myself called upon to recapitulate the proceedings of our Society 

 during the several Meetings of the year that has passed. Before 

 I enter upon this detail, ^»ermit me to congratulate the now numer- 

 ous members of tho Club, upon its present healthy and prosperous 

 condition, which bids fair, I think, to realize the aspiration of its 

 esteemed founder, breathed forth in his admirable and glowing ad- 

 dress, delivered at our last Anniversary, and responded to by all 

 who were present, •' May the Club live for ever l^ — Yes, long I 

 trust may the motives which led to its institution, and the feelings 

 which have hitherto guided and directed it, continue to influence its 

 members, and give a permanent support to an institution, from 

 which, all who have attended its meetings must allow, that not only 

 corporeal pleasure, but mental profit, has been largely derived. 



For myself, I confess the days appointed for our Meeting are al- 

 ways anticipated with a pleasure experienced on few other occasions. 

 I find myself, as it were, about to throw aside, for a brief period, all 

 those cares and anxieties, which accompany and embarrass our more 

 mundane pursuits, with a mind attuned to a higher state of feeling, 

 anxious to participate in the 



** Feast of reason, and the flow of soul." 



Such a feeling, I can safely assert, has prevailed during the nine 

 years that have now elapsed, since I last had the honour of address* 

 ing you ; and I fain would believe that a similar one has not been 

 wanting in the breasts of those Members who have been able to 

 attend our Meetings. 



B. W. C. — TOL. II. NO. XH. Q 



