314 PROCEEDINOS OF PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES. 



bits, we may almost say the nature, of man is changed by time ; one 

 race of men succeeds another, empires rise upon the ruins of former 

 kingdoms, enlightenment and science progress, and again decline. 

 Look, too, at languages : how various ! how imperfect ! how change- 

 able ! How many have been swallowed up in the gulph of years, 

 or descended to us entombed in a few ancient works ! Does not 

 this speak plainly of the instability, the corruption, the fall, the 

 confusion of man } On the contrary, the race of animals, all de- 

 stined to perish, while man is born for immortality, remain uniform 

 in their generations, unmoved by the convulsions of the world, 

 untouched by time ; and the song of a bird which now fills the 

 air is the very same which, six thousand years ago, the first of his 

 species poured forth in homage when he came perfect from the 

 hand of his Creator." 



Thomas Thursfield, Esq., next read a very able paper on the 

 Basaltic Dyke at Shatterford, and the vegetable remains in the ad- 

 jacent coal measure. The paper displayed deep research and an 

 intimate knowledge of the subject; and was illustrated by a draw- 

 ing and many beautiful and valuable specimens. 



On the motion of Mr. Aston, seconded by Mr. Cookes, a vote of 

 thanks was given to the Rev. J. Pearson and Mr. Thursfield for 

 their scientific and highly interesting papers ; and the meeting 

 broke up, highly gratified with the proceedings which had been laid 

 before them. 



SHROPSHIRE AND NORTH WALES NATURAL HISTORY 

 AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. 



The session of this Society terminated on the 2nd of May, dur- 

 ing which the following interesting lectures and valuable scientific 

 papers have been read : January. — Lecture on Pneumatics, by 

 Henry Johnson, M.D. ; on the Conversion of Cast-iron into Plum- 

 bago, by Thomas Du Gard, M.D., F.G.S. ; a Continuation of the 

 Shropshire Fauna, comprising a portion of the class Aves, by T. C. 

 Eyton, Esq., F.L. and Z.S. February. — Lecture on the Afiinities 

 of Vertebrate Animals, by T. C. Eyton, Esq., F.L. and Z.S. 

 March. — Lecture on Electricity, by Mr. Thomas Blunt ; on the 

 Utility of Antiquarian Research as connected with the Remains of 

 Shrewsbury Abbey, and recent discoveries therein, by Mr. Henry 

 Pidgeon. April. — Lecture on Optics, by Henry Bloxam, Esq. ; on 

 a Deposit of Mammalian Remains on the Coast of Kent, communi- 

 cated by the Rev. B. H. Kennedy, D.D. May. — Lecture on the 

 Metamorphoses of Plants, by W. A. Leigh ton, Esq., B.A. ; on the 

 Composition of Soils, by the Rev. C. A. A. Lloyd, M.A. ; on the 

 Roses of Britain, by Edwin Lees, F.L.S. 



Among the very numerous donations to the Museum and Library 

 lately received, the following may be enumerated as the more valu- 



