36 president's address. 



hours spent in these Museums, I observed him, at one time, 

 making appointments with royal personages ; at another, fami- 

 liarly explaining coins and other antiquities to peasants. In 

 this manner, his own personal efforts have done much to extend 

 a useful knowledge of works connected with national events, as 

 well as with the more ample and wondrous realms of Natural 

 History. It is in this direction, I consider, that the Members of 

 our Society, and similar institutions, might do good service, both 

 in local Museums, and when occupied in country excursions. Jn 

 the latter, I would especially mention how much benefit might 

 arise from occasional visits to, and short lectures in, schools. 

 The foundation of a love of natural knowledge might be thus 

 implanted in many a mind, and teachers would be encouraged 

 to persevere in the development of that knowledge of common 

 things which is now so properly deemed an important part of 

 popular education. 



Natural History presents so many attractive objects of study — 

 unfolds so many wonders — opens out so many interesting modes 

 of employing time, and so eminently improves the powers of 

 observation, that it has a direct bearing upon all education, and 

 cannot, therefore, be too earnestly impressed on the young. How 

 few and far between are the opportunities presented to the 

 children of the humbler^ or even of the middle and higher classes 

 of society, of studying, at leisure, any well arranged and self- 

 explaining collections. Museums arranged in separate rooms, of 

 moderate size, and without pretensions to architectural show, 

 ought to be open to the public in every town, and any conside- 

 rable village ; and as regards this town, I cannot avoid alluding 

 to a collection of great value, which it is to be hoped may, at no 

 distant time, be placed in a convenient suite of apartments, and 

 made available for public inspection. I mean the admirable 

 Ornithological Museum, formed by one of our members, Mr. John 

 Hancock — a collection which, I am warranted in saying, is of 

 national value, and ought therefore, locally, to be highly prized. 

 In some minds, a keenly perceptive power of observation has 

 been combined with skill in manipulation, and with almost un- 

 wearying powers of application. The union of these rare, but 



