270 Scientific Reviews. 



From these facts it was evident that some change was required, if Edinburgh 

 was to possess a Natural History Society, which might bear any equality to the 

 rank and respectability of the University, in whose bosom it was placed. And, 

 as we had entered upon the task of ascertaining the state of science in this coun- 

 try, it became a duty with us to make known the results of our inquiries, which 

 accordingly appeared in No. V. (p. 352,) of this Journal, for February 1830. 

 We therein published statements which have only been corroborated by subse- 

 quent information, and we then challenged contradiction from those best ac- 

 quainted with the Society's affairs. 



About this time a busy activity pervaded the Wernerian Society. The abuses 

 became a subject of conversation ; and, in the month of April last, Mr. Falco. 

 nar, for the third time, made an eifort to stay the progress of the Society's 

 ruin. The Council was in consequence again directed to examine into the state 

 of the library, and to procure a new catalogue of the books, &c. in the Society's 

 collection ; and an inquiry into the state of the funds was also set on foot. A 

 committee of the Council was appointed to the duty, and their labours are now 

 in progress. 



From the above narrative, whose accuracy is open to refutation by any one 

 who can dispute it, it wiU appear sufficiently clear that we have already done some 

 little service, at least in our own city. And after having congratulated ourselves 

 upon success, we could not but be surprized to find that a circular had actually 

 been put forth, for the mere apparent purpose of depriving us of the credit of hav- 

 ing occasioned the renewal of the investigation into the library, and, in addition, 

 an inquiry into the nature and condition of the Museum of the Society. Had 

 tills document confined itself to a statement of facts, without indulging in party- 

 coloured explanations, we should have passed it over unnoticed ; but the ridicu- 

 lous attempt to rob us of any little merit we may have obtained by our labours, 

 together with the doubtful form under which the circular appears, seem to require 

 ti-om us a brief analysis of its true scope and design. 



The apology for this publication is contained in the following words : 



" Erroneous notions being in circulation regarding the occasion and objects of 

 the inquiry into the state of the Library and Collection of the Wernerian So- 

 ciety, the following correct statement, taken from the Minute-book of the So- 

 ciety, seems called for." 



Now, we think the occasion and objects of the investigation will be tolerably 

 understood from the above details ; but we give the document at length. 



" On the 4th December 1824, it was ' moved by Mr Falconar of Carlowrie, 

 and seconded by Dr Charles Anderson, and unanimously agreed to. That it 

 be an instruction to the Council to make particular inquiry into the state of 

 the books belonging to the Society, and to have a list made up without loss 

 of time.' {Minute-book, ^. 2m.) 



" ' Thereafter^ the Council having met ; in pursuance of the preceding in- 

 structions, appoint Mr G. A. W. Arnott, Mr Alex. Adie, and Dr Robert 

 Knox, a committee to make inquiry as to the state of the books belonging to 

 the Society, and to take steps for getting a complete list of the books made up 

 and printed for the use of tne Members.' {Min. p. 231.) 



" Mr Arnott having gone to the Continent, the Committee delayed to report ; 

 and after the lapse of three years (during which period, however, such Mem- 

 bers as demanded books were furnished with them,) Mr Falconar and Dr 

 Anderson brought the matter again before the Society, 15th December 1827, 

 and the Committee were ' requested to expedite their report.' {Min. p. 279.) 



" About a month afterwards, Professor Jameson directed the Secretary to call 

 a meeting of Council on this business ; and accordingly, on 26th January 1828, 

 ' the Council met and took into consideration the state of the books, &c. be- 

 longing to the Society. A list of the books made up by James Wilson, Esq. 

 the librarian, was laid before the meeting. It was then agreed that, as a pre- 

 liminary step, a notice be added to next billet, earnestly calling upon Members 

 who may have borrowed books from the Society, to return the same without 

 delay. It was likewise agreed that, thereafter, the librarian, or a member of 

 the Society acting in his place, should he reatxested to ^ttend on each Saturday 



