14 



where Professor Buckman displayed the already valuable museum of 

 Natural History, and Professor Wilson accompanied us round the flourishing 

 farm. 



On Tuesday, June 13, we met at the Spread Eagle at Gloucester, and 

 walked to Churchdown Hill, from the summit of which Mr. Buckman 

 explained to us a most interesting theory of a Strait of the Sea having 

 at one time probably separated England from Wales, but which has 

 long risen into dry land ; which led some of us to speculations, whether the 

 Irish Channel might not some day rise, and unite us, in like manner, with 

 the sister Isle by a Union not easily repealed. 



On Tuesday, Aug. 8th, the Club met at Minchinhampton, and enjoyed 

 the choice and beautiful collection of fossils made by Mr. Lycett, who then 

 accompanied them to the quarries in the neighbourhood, whence his patience 

 and skill has procured them, and where he has been rewarded by the 

 discovery of several shells new to science. And on Tuesday, Sept. 26th, 

 we met at Stonehouse, and walked where Fretherne Cliff overhanging the 

 Severn near the lower part of the horse shoe, by its frequently crumbling 

 affords constant interest to the Geologist ; and though on our return Mr. 

 Buckman seemed to fear that instead of finding mistletoe in Gloucester- 

 shire oaks, it was only found in a hoax, yet I am assured that the rare speci- 

 men still actually exists, though in a different tree to those we had searched. 



Forgive me, Gentlemen, if I have dwelt too long on the recapitulation 

 of these our meetings, but I, for my part, have received so much pleasure 

 from them, and so much information relative to my own county and 

 neighbourhood, that if you have enjoyed them as I have, you will not 

 grudge the having them again separately recalled to your recollections. 



And now let me say a few words on our general objects. I remember 

 being asked, some time ago, " What is the aim or end of such a meeting ; 

 can you hope to make in this district any discoveries new to science, and 

 to throw a light hitherto unknown on the world ? or, if you do discover a 

 new fossil shell, or a new insect, what will the world be the better for it? " 

 — To this I can only answer, " Our object is not so much the hope of 

 making the world better, as to make ourselves better. We seek a healthy, 

 a most fascinating, far more than either, a most holy study. For what is 

 the study of Natural History, but an approach to the Creator through his 

 works ? Nor do I believe, that He who has charged us, not only to read, 

 but diligently to mark and learn the Bible, plain and distinct as much of 

 it is, yet so deep in its wisdom, that no man, however much he may have 

 pored over it, will say that he has mastered it and need study it no more ; 

 I cannot, I say, believe that He has given us those wonderful books of stone, 

 which lie in the earth, in which He has placed characters, hard to be read 

 indeed at first, yet rewarding the patient investigator with chronicles that 

 can scarcely be mistaken— and that He has not intended that we should 

 read them, were it but to bring more clearly to our dull conceptions that 

 greatness which our highest imaginations can never reach." 



I cannot believe that He has permitted us (for all knowledge comes only 

 by His permission) to acquire the power of the microscope, which enables 

 us to discover so much of the nature of what is sometimes called "the 

 meanest insect," had He not intended to convince us by our own senses, that 

 nothing which He has created can be called mean— and though the farther 

 we proceed in the study, the more we find yet to be learned — yet, with the 

 sense of our own ignorance, increases also our sense of the wisdom of 

 Him who is seen over all and in all His works. 



If we take up the study of Natural History with this feeling — and 

 without such a feeling let none venture to approach it — the ultimate object 

 of our Society is indeed a high one, and if the means be a pure and healthful 

 recreation from the more fatiguing (and very necessary) yet not more noble 

 employments of every day life, let us trust that we may long be permitted 

 to receive aid and assistance from each other, in that noble study, the 

 pursuit of which is the object of the Cotteswolds Club. 



