1G0 PROCEEDINGS OF PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES. 



to our nature, for one moment to suppose that the cultivation of our 

 faculties can ever be prejudicial to ourselves or to others? Can a 

 man, who is fearfully and wonderfully made, know too much of 

 himself or of the world around him, which, from the meanest flower 

 at his feet to the glittering star which sparkles in the firmament, 

 proclaims the power, the glory, and the beneficence of an All-boun- 

 tiful and Omnipotent Creator ?" 



WORCESTERSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



The ceremony of opening the museum of this society took place 

 on the 13th of September ; on which occasion upwards of eight 

 hundred persons attended, including a large proportion of the inha- 

 bitants of the county and city distinguished for their literary and 

 scientific attainments. The Bishop of Worcester entered the room 

 about twelve o'clock, accompanied by the members of the council, 

 and at the request of the Hon. and Rev. J. S. Cocks immediately 

 took the chair. His lordship then proceeded to open the business 

 of the day in a brief address, in the course of which he congratulat- 

 ed the members of the society upon the completion of the building 

 wherein they were assembled, in every respect so admirably calcu- 

 lated for the purpose for which it was erected. His lordship con- 

 cluded by requesting Dr. Hastings to deliver his address. 



The learned physician commenced by expressing his regret that 

 so responsible a task had not been intrusted to some veteran labour- 

 er in the field of science. " The dedication," he observed, " of this 

 temple to science — this splendid edifice, which, to future ages, will 

 be a monument of the zealous desire of the present generation to 

 advance the progress of useful knowledge — should have been under- 

 taken by some votary more capable than myself of making a suit- 

 able offering on its altar." Dr. Hastings then proceeded to shew 

 the good results that are likely to ensue from well-regulated socie- 

 ties formed for the cultivation of knowledge ; and, after making 

 some apposite remarks on the advantages and pleasures to be derived 

 from the study of Natural History, traced, in a very lucid manner, 

 the progress of that science from its earliest rude and barren state, 

 to its present advanced and promising condition ; and, finally, laid 

 before his audience a succinct account of the labours of its most suc- 

 cessful cultivators. This very able and eloquent address was lis- 

 tened to throughout with marked attention, and frequently elicited 

 very considerable applause. 



At the conclusion, a vote of thanks to Dr. Hastings was proposed 

 by the Rev. John Peel, and seconded by John Williams, Esq., of 

 Pitmaston, accompanied with a request that the address be printed ;* 



* In the event of Dr. Hastings complying with the request that his ad- 

 dress be printed, we propose giving an analysis in our next number. 



