6 



to Rushmire turnpike, pausing awhilo to admire the view, we turned 

 to the left, by the grounds of the Ridge — the seat of Mr. Bengough 

 — and crossing "Waterly Bottom, ascended Stinchcombe Hill, from 

 the summit of which — near Drakestone — Mr. Strickland gave us a 

 most interesting Geological dissertation ; shewing that the Welsh 

 Hills had probably stood boldly forth, and far more loftily than at 

 present, at a period when none of the rest of England had emerged 

 from the waters. 



It is most curious to observe how the sciences — even when not 

 studied together — lead to the same result : but this is exactly the 

 same conclusions, apparently, as has been arrived at by the students 

 of Welch history, and fully accounts for the proverbial length of the 

 Welch Pedigrees. 



Returning by Stancombe and Kibley, we concluded our meetings 

 of the summer of 1850, with Dr. Wright's account of his summer 

 geologizing in the Isle of Wight, which appears in our papers : and 

 Mr. Douglas Campbell proposed a scheme for a society for promoting 

 botanical research to extend the knowledge of our own Flora. 



And now, at the end of our year, let me again congratulate the 

 Club on the progress we have made, not so much in the addition of 

 fresh names to our list, as in the increased pleasure and interest in 

 our pursuits which our members evince by their more frequent 

 attendance. Our parties this year have seldom fallen short of twenty. 

 Our papers have risen both in number and value, and I would fain 

 hope that the facility which our meetings afford may have led some 

 to take increased interest, and have afforded others increased oppor- 

 tunity for our great and noble study. 



In addition to the two first objects of our club — namely, the 

 obtaining some knowledge of our own county, and the general study 

 of any branch of Natural History which each may prefer^it will 

 be a great pleasure to us if we can assist in the carrying out of any 

 more specific scheme for the study of any one branch of nature (such 

 as that proposed by Mr. Douglas Campbell, of St. Chloe Grange, 

 near Stroud,) for the better study of the flora of our own country. 



The scheme appears well- arranged, and I hope that it may be 

 taken up in such a manner as to ensure the success it deserves : yet, 

 let me be allowed to say, that I hope, that if it be so, a resolution 

 may be entered into by the Club, that — dcsireable as it may be to 

 collect rare specimens — it would be most unworthy of the Society 

 to encourage the spoliation of the nature which it professes to 

 admire ; and that the increased number of dried specimens of a rare 

 plant, in collections, would be dearly indeed purchased by any 

 considerable decrease of the same plant in its natural locality. The 

 greatest care should he taken when a rare plant is found, only to remove 

 so small a portion of the total number, as not to risk any considerable 

 diminution of its quantity. (The cheering here was so loud that the 

 opinion appeared to be unanimously adopted by the Club.) 



And now we are on the subject, will you forgive me if I venture 

 a suggestion upon collections in general ? / 



