THE LOCAL FIELD-CLUBS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 359 



the out-door study of natural history would be highly useful and 

 agreeable, formed themselves into a temporary committee, in order to 

 give practical shape to the idea. This was early in 1860, and cii-- 

 culars, stating the objects of the proposed field-club, having been 

 issued to those likely to feel interested in it, the Society was at once 

 formed, the Earl of EUesmere being the President, and Mr. Leo 

 Grindon the Secretary, a post which he has tilled from that date until 

 the present. In little more than a fortnight 170 ladies and gentlemen 

 were enrolled as members, and the first meeting was held on April 

 nth, 1860, in the Library Hall of the Athenaeum, at which about 250 

 were present. On this occasion an inaugural address was delivered 

 by Thomas Turner, Esq., and there was an exhibition of objects in all 

 branches of natural history. 



The management of the Society is vested in a President, two Vice- 

 Presidents, a Treasurer, Secretary, and General Committee. These 

 officers are elected annually. Members are admitted by ballot. The 

 annual subscription is 10s. 6cl., and the same amount is paid as an 

 entrance fee. During the ten years of the Society's existence thirty- 

 five soirees have been held ; at each of these there has been a large 

 attendance, and one or more papers have been read, tlie greater num- 

 ber by the Secretary and Mr. R. Holland. There has also been at 

 each soiree a well-arranged collection of objects for inspection. During 

 the same number of years 105 excursions have been made, one (on an 

 average) on every other Saturday during the summer months. On 

 many of these occasions the whole day has been taken for the excur- 

 sion, and by this means, with the facilities offered by railways, distant 

 localities, such as Matlock and Buxton, are visited which would not 

 otherwise be attainable. At these excursions short extempore addresses 

 are delivered by the Secretary and-other members, either on the objects 

 met with during the walk or some other topic of interest. 



The President is Dr. Simpson, and the number of members is 225. 

 As might be expected, so large a number comprises many whose love 

 for natural science is but small ; and it is a matter for question as to 

 how far their presence tends to the advantage of the Society, It cer- 

 tainly goes some way to justify the opinion which has been expressed 

 regarding this and kindred bodies that a dilettmite and superficial 

 knowledge alone is likely to result from membership. But there is iu 

 the Manchester Eield-Club, as in all similar ones, a substratum of 



