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ADDRESS TO THE MEMBERS OF THE TYNESIDE 

 NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB, 



READ AT THE SIXTH ANNIVERSARY MEETING, HELD IN THE 

 C03IMITTEE ROOM OF THE LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, 

 NEWCASTLE - UPON - TYNE, APRIL 5tH, 1852. By ROBERT 



INGHAM, Esq., President. 



Gentlemen, — There are three main characteristics of our 

 Society; the study of Natural History in all its branches; the 

 study of the Antiquarian History of the district, in all its branches 

 likewise, (comprising the relics of the language and customs of 

 the various races of our predecessors, as well as the material 

 evidence of their residence in the sites of our present homes) ; 

 and, thirdly, the prosecution of these studies, not exclusively in 

 the closet or by solitary investigations, but socially, by " Clinical 

 Lectures," to use the hospital term, where objects of interest can 

 be examined on the spot of their occurrence, and theory can be 

 corrected by eyesight. It will now be my duty, in compliance 

 with established practice, to read you a summary of what has 

 been done in the preceding year, at our several meetings; and 

 the Secretary of our society has collected and arranged for me 

 ample memorials of our proceedings for that purpose. 



But it has also been the practice in these presidential speeches 

 to add some remarks connected with the objects of the society, 

 and not simply descriptive of the operations on our field days. 

 It would be clearly out of place if 1 were to attempt, with my 

 limited knowledge of Natural History, to occupy your time by 

 any speculations on what you have discovered or observed. 

 Neither have I any thing to proiFer on the subject of antiquities 

 which 1 could suppose capable of enlarging your information 

 upon the subject. I would rather add a few remarks ujDon what 

 I think may introduce a new topic of interest into our rambles^ 

 and which has some connection, although a fantastic one, with 

 our twofold functions as naturalists and antiquaries. 



VOL. II. PT. II. s 



