32 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 



They also reported that the following had been elected as officers for 1891 : 

 President, Mr. E. A. Fitch ; Treasurer, Mr. A. Lockyer ; Hon. Secretary, Mr, W. 

 Cole ; Assistant Hon. Secretary, Mr. B. G. Cole ; Librarian, Mr. A. P. Wire. 



Mr. Fitch warmly thanked the members for re-electing him as their President. 

 In accordance with the unwritten law of the Club, he had exceeded the usual term 

 of office, but his colleagues were anxious that he should continue during the 

 settlement of the scheme of amalgamation, and as he had taken very great interest 

 in the question of the Museum he was very happy to assume the pleasant duties 

 of President for another year. As so much important business lay before the 

 meeting, he had thought it best to omit the usual Address on this occasion. 



Mr. Varley proposed a vote of thanks to the officers, which was seconded by 

 Mr. Cohn, and carried unanimously. 



The President then declared the meeting a SPECIAL one, for the purpose of con- 

 sideringthe scheme forthe amalgamation of the Essex and Chelmsford Museum with 

 the Club, and other matters, in accordance with the notice given at the last meeting. 



The President then read the scheme (which is printed in full in the Essex 

 Naturalist, vol. iv. pp. 236-241, and also separately) and in doing so alluded to 

 the cordial relations which existed between the present Committee of the Museum 

 and the Club, and the friendly way in which the somewhat difficult negociations 

 for the amalgamation had been carried on by the Joint Committee appointed for 

 the purpose. The scheme had been unanimousl}- passed by the Joint Committee 

 and by the Council of the Club, and it was now submitted to the members. 



Professor Meldola, in an earnest speech, strongly recommended the scheme to 

 the favourable consideration of the meeting The formation of a really good 

 local Museum had always an object with the Club — they had made progress in 

 gathering materials, and a scheme had been much discussed some years 

 ago, but they had never been able to meet with sufficient support. The present 

 scheme had been carefully drawn up by their Secretary, and had been fully con- 

 sidered and unanimously agreed to by the representatives of the two bodies ; it 

 had been received with approval by all their coUeagues, and as far as he could 

 learn b}' all the members. If a local Museum was to be established in Essex, 

 Chelmsford was certainly the best site for it — as being the county town, and as 

 occupj^ing a very central position. He therefore begged to move : — 



"That the plans for the nrmalgamation of the Essex and Chelmsford Museum 

 with the Essex Field Club, and for the establishment of a Local Museum, as set 

 forth in the scheme, be adopted." 



Dr. Thresh, as an inhabitant of Chelmsford, and as a member of the Club, 

 seconded the resolution. He pointed out the advantages to the county town, and 

 the advantages which would accrue to both the Field Club and Museum by the 

 amalgamation, adding that the Museum would be built up and made worthy of 

 Essex by the labours of the Field Club, and the latter would add a local habitation 

 to its name. Unfortunately in many respects Chelmsford had not taken the 

 position which a county town might be expected to take, more particularly in 

 regard to education. It was quite time some effort was made to shake off this 

 indifterence, and to realise that there were responsibilities as well as privileges 

 attaching to the position of county town of such a district as Essex. With the 

 erection of a new Grammar School one reproach would be wiped away ; whilst, 

 by the amalgamation of the Field Club and Museum, another would be removed. 



Mr. J. Taylor owned to a feeling of regret that the words "Chelmsford 

 Museum " did not in any wa}^ form part of the title of the new Society. 



The President pointed out that the Committee had thoroughly considered the 



