108 



fossils, such as the terebratula decussata, orbicularis, digona, &c, 

 and where Mr. Buckman and the students of the College, have 

 collected no less than 223 distinct species of fossil remains. 



"We then proceeded along the railroad to a little beyond the 

 Kemble station, where a curiously distinct fault was shewn in the 

 cutting before passing the tunnel, where the Combrash, the Forest 

 marble, and the Bradford clay, have sunk so low, that the Corn- 

 brash on one side of the fault is brought down to a level with the 

 great oolite on the other. 



"We then returned by the banks of the Canal — looking into the 

 remains of the Amphitheatre by the way — to our dinner at the 

 White Hart. But here occurred a difficulty which I much regret 

 to record, and which I propose to make a ground of a special 

 motion for the consideration of the Club. Although we utterly 

 and with scorn deny the imputation which some of our calumnia- 

 tors venture to assert — namely, that the dinner and that etherial 

 dew of the mountains which usually succeeds it, forms a principal 

 attraction to our meetings — though we have striven most suc- 

 cessfully throughout our existence to retain that absence of luxury 

 — that almost eremitical fare which would prevent such assertions 

 from those who knew aught of our habits — yet there can be no 

 doubt that it behoves us, more especially as students of nature, to 

 remember that nature ought to be supported. 



Now, our excellent Secretary has taken care — on all the cards, 

 on which he sends us the notices of our meetings, to print most 

 legibly " An answer will oblige." Alas for the frailty of even Cot- 

 teswoldian man ! Will it be believed that there are any who are 

 not anxious to oblige the Secretary ? Yet so it is. Now mark 

 the consequence. The Secretary being led to expect about twelve 

 to dinner, made his preparations for that number. For twelve did 

 mine Host of the White Hart provide a sufficient repast. But 

 when nearly thirty appeared to partake of it — whose fault, I ask, 

 was it that the table proved all too small ? and though, thanks to 

 our being in the good town of Cirencester, mine Host was enabled 

 both to get other tables and to eke out a bare sufficiency to place 

 thereon, yet had the same case occurred at one of the more 

 usual habitats of the Club — some small hostelrie in some lone and 

 sequestered valley of the Cotteswoldes — I tremble to think of the 

 consequences. I even find the following observation recorded in 

 the notes: "Though unexpected pleasures are often agreeable — 

 the Secretary finds that he derives even greater gratification from 

 dwelling some days previously on the thoughts of meeting such 

 and such friends, than from the sudden apparition of an unlooked 

 for (though not unwished for) member — followed mayhap by 

 several friends (all extremely agreeable — but) for whom no provi- 

 sion has been made in the bill of fare. 



Now the motion which I beg to found on this appalling state- 

 ment is as follows : — 



That our Secretary do prepare a list — to be laid before the Club 

 this day six months — or some other time — of all who on this occa- 



