XX PEOCEEDINGS OF THE 



earnestly and with a high and unselfish aim, to further the advance 

 of those branches of science to which it is devoted. If circum- 

 stances are found to exist which interfere with the fulfilment of 

 this object, it becomes our duty to endeavour by all the fair and 

 honourable means in our power to obviate them. I have ap- 

 proached the subject on which I have so long detained you with 

 great diffidence and reluctance. I am well aware that I may have 

 laid myself open to misapprehension, but I felt it imperative upon 

 . me, placed where I am by your confidence and good opinion, to 

 give you unreservedly my feelings and thoughts upon a matter in 

 which I believe the welfare of the Society, and consequently the 

 progress of Natural History, are in a greater or less degree in- 

 volved; and I have only now to say, "Hberavi animam meam," 

 and to leave the subject in your hands. And now, Grentlemen, I 

 apply myself with great pleasure to matters of a more agreeable 

 character. 



It is with great satisfaction that I caU your attention to what I 

 hav(i always considered a very important and useful portion of our 

 Museum department, and one peculiarly appropriate to the origi- 

 nal object of this Society as distinctly expressed in our charter, 

 which defines that object to be " the cultivation of the Science of 

 Natural History in all its branches, and more especially of the 

 Natural History of Great Britain and Ireland." I allude to the 

 British Herbarium. The existence of several typical and well- 

 known collections of our native plants which have at various 

 times come into our possession, appeared, now that we have 

 ample room for their arrangement and use, to afford a most 

 desirable opportunity of forming as complete an assemblage as 

 possible of our national Flora, of which those collections should 

 form the nucleus. Toiir Council have therefore named a Com- 

 mittee, consisting of three of the most competent British bota- 

 nists in the Society, for the accomplishment of this object ; and I 

 am sure you will agree with me, when I mention the names of 

 Dr. Alexander, Mr. Charles Cardale Babington, and Mr. Bentham, 

 that a better selection could not have been made. These gentle- 

 men have conferred a great benefit on the Society by kindly 

 accepting the task, and they have now entered upon their labours. 

 The basis of the proposed herbarium is being selected from the 

 collections of Mr. Winch and of Dr. Withering, and the deficien- 

 cies will be filled up by contributions offered by various PeUows 

 of the Society. The Committee have the advantage of the assist- 

 ance of Mr. Daniel Oliver, one of our PeDows, who has under- 



