[ 261 ] 



Address to the Members of the Berwickshire Naturalists Club, 

 delivered at the Anniversary Meeting^ held at Delfordy Sep- 

 tember 13, 1848. By John S. Donaldson Selby, Esq., Presi- 

 dent 



Gentlemen, 



On this anniversary our Club completes the 17th year of 

 its hitherto prosperous and useful existence, and it becomes 

 my duty, as your President, previous to the resignation of the 

 office, which, for the past year, I have had the distinguished 

 honour to hold, to place before you a cursory view of the 

 proceedings of our Society during that period. Conscious of 

 th^ inefficient and imperfect manner in which I have dis- 

 charged the duties of my office, and of my inability to do 

 justice to the various subjects I am expected to discuss, and 

 to draw your attention to, on this occasion, I would bespeak 

 your kind indulgence and forbearance. A great love and 

 admiration for the science of Natural History, in all its vari- 

 ous departments, and an earnest wish for its advancement and 

 zealous prosecution in this country, is all I can lay claim to ; 

 and although zeal without knowledge is often deemed dan- 

 gerous, and not to be relied on, I fear it will be the only 

 justification you will be able to plead for having elected me 

 as your President. 



Our 16tli anniversary meeting was held at Alnwick, 22d 

 September, 1847. The members of the Club, by special in- 

 vitation, breakfasted with Mr. Dickson, by whom they were 

 most hospitably entertained. Through the courtesy of his 

 Grace the Duke of Northumberland, the party were permitted 

 to examine the various collections contained in Alnwick Castle, 

 consisting of Egyptian antiquities, brought home by his Grace, 

 and of those British and Roman remains, which have been 

 found at various periods on the Northumberland estates of 

 the family of Percy. 



On this occasion, the Members of the Tyneside Naturalist 

 Field Club came to Alnwick, to meet our members, by spe- 

 cial appointment, forming a most harmonious and interesting 



RN.C. — VOL. IL KO. VI. » 



