296 PJROCEEDINGS OF PROVINCIAL SOCIETIES. 



which that of natural history can hardly fail to lead every pious 

 and well-regulated mind. So that we may 



* Find tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, 

 Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.' " 



The venerable president then alluded to the value and importance 

 of such institutions, when considered in. a national point of view, as 

 promoting and diffusing a taste for science, and forming a nucleus, 

 in different parts of the .kingdom, round which may be collected a 

 variety of .interesting 'materials, for scientific purposes and general 

 information. Such a concentration would give a better and more 

 thorough insight to the inquisitive and scientific traveller of the 

 productions of the district he is passing through, than the most 

 splendid private, or even metropolitan, collections. The illustra- 

 tions, therefore, of the natural history of any district, are those 

 which claim our first attention, whether w^e regard its geological 

 structure, its mineralogy, its hydrography, its entomology, its 

 botany, its zoology, its meteorology, or any other of its phenomena. 

 A knowledge, also, of the habits and manners of its inhabitants, and 

 of the changes they have undergone, rendered a collection of anti- 

 quities a very delightful and valuable addition to a cabinet of natu- 

 ral history. Arms, implements used in husbandry -or the arts, 

 domestic utensils, dresses — in short, whatever tends to illustrate the 

 manners of by .gone times, and especially coins, or sepulchral reliquea 

 and inscriptions found within the district, which frequently mark 

 some important site, or historical epoch connected with it, are all of 

 great value in such collections. In all these departments, the pre- 

 sident solicited the contributions of the friends of the society, and 

 especially recommended that they be always accompanied with a 

 statement of the places where they were found, and such other par- 

 ticulars as were knov/n. 



The president then adverted to the heavy expenses in fitting up 

 the rooms of the museum with proper cases, &c., which must neces- 

 sarily be incurred by the society at its commencement ; and noticed, 

 with great commendation, the laudable example which had been 

 set, by two gentlemen of the county, in contributing handsome do- 

 nations of money, towards effecting that object. 



The Archdeacon next proceeded to observe that a very impor- 

 tant feature in th^se societies was, that they are sufficiently attrac- 

 tive to occupy the notice and attention of the softer sex. Abstract 

 science is generally too crabbed and severe to engage the finer and 

 more delicate perceptions of female minds in its pursuit ; and though 

 there have not been wanting some splendid exceptions to this general 

 observation, and at the present moment an English lady holds the 

 highest rank in mathematical and astronomical studies, and bears 

 her faculties with a degree of meekness which sheds a brighter 

 lustre on her scientific acquirements than the most exalted talents. 



