PRESENTATION TO MR. WILLIAM COLE. I 27 



has. I feel, indeed, in some ways, like a man who has undergone what is 

 vulgularly called "three months' hard"; but whereas, in ordinary circum- 

 stances, the man who undergoes that experience lias nothing but vain regrets, I 

 have nothing but pleasant recollections. Personally, 1 have my reward in the 

 very ready response this movement lias met with. It seems to have received 

 al-nost universal approval. Everyone I have approached in the matter has 

 expressed good wishes and has sent a subscription. I think I have never been 

 associated with any movement that went with such a " bang," as you may say, from 

 start to finish. In connection with these matters, it is, as you know, a very 

 •common experience to have to whip round very hard, but nothing of the kind has 

 been necessary in this case. How ready the response has been is shown by the 

 fact that no less than 169 ladies and gentlemen have sent subscriptions — 

 .(applause) — and that is, I think, a very remarkable total. Further, I should like 

 to express to our Chairman of this evening and also to our honorary treasurer, 

 Mr. David Howard, my personal thanks for the very great assistance they have 

 rendered in this matter. 



So much as to the origin and progress of this movement. Turning to other 

 matters, I should like to say that I think one of the most satisfactory features 

 we can congratulate ourselves upon in connection with this movement is the 

 fact that it is not a farewell meeting, as so many such gatherings are. Our hon. 

 secretary is not retiring from his labours, and we all hope that he will not 

 retire for a long time. 



I have been associated with Mr. Cole during the whole course of the Field 

 Club's existence, and I know well the labour and the skill and forethought he 

 has given to its work. In expressing my own appreciation of his work and that 

 of his brothers and sisters, I should like to emphasize one remark which was 

 contained in the letter from Professor Ray Lankester which our Chairman read 

 to you. He said, I think, something to the effect that the whole result of what 

 Mr. Cole has done is not yet apparent. It is not so much a matter of what we can see 

 has been accomplished in the past as of what will be accomplished in the future by 

 what he has done. That work, by attracting young men to study natural science, 

 and by training them, will, I believe, continue to bear valuable fruit long after we 

 have celebiated this function. In this we have, I think, the chief value of Mr. 

 Cole's work. 



Mr. T. F. V. Buxton, j.p., High Sheriff of Essex, said: Professor 

 Meldola, ladies and gentlemen, I feel it an honour to be asked to say a few 

 words in suppoit of what has already been said about Mr. Cole and his work. 



It seems to me that there is something peculiarly appropriate in our meeting 

 where we do this evening. This paper that we have before us reminds us that we 

 may look back not only over the twenty-five years of the Club's existence, but 

 just a little further still to a great work which Mr. Cole had a hand in carrying 

 out : I mean the rescue of Epping Forest (Applause). To-night we meet 

 within the borders of that forest, which is now so great a boon to the public. 



I am reminded that the Field Club is not connected with the 

 forest alone or with this neighbourhood alone, but that it is an Essex 

 Field Club ; and I feel that the County as a whole — not only those who li\e in 

 this part of the county —are indebted to Mr. Cole and his brothers and sisters for 

 the work that they have done in the interests of science and natural history, I 

 think that a specially-valuable branch of that work has to do with the education 

 of children. A good deal has been done and a good deal more is likely to be 



