PEESIDENT's ADDEEH8. 43 



tion from the Treasury, inviting opinions as to the scale of the 

 maps, and the system of contouring ; and upon both these 

 matters I submitted views, which, I venture to believe, would 

 not only greatly facilitate the progress of the maps, but render 

 them more extensively useful than can be accomplished by any 

 other means. I consider the earliest possible completion and 

 publication of a one-inch map, with occasional heights marked 

 on it, to be all that either the public, engineers, or scientific 

 persons require. A careful record of the measured lines of large 

 triangles, or other spaces, might be kept in MS. plans and books, 

 80 as to be available to all who require maps on a larger scale ; 

 and, with boundary-lines, surrounding spaces of two, three, or 

 more square miles, a correct guide would be had to such further 

 surveying operations as are requisite to fill up the included 

 spaces, which might be Jone to a greater or less scale, as parties 

 desired for their respective purposes. An index of the lines 

 thus measured, would then be the only publication required of 

 Government, in addition to the one-inch map. If the sections 

 taken of such lines were also made available, they would form a 

 more exact guide than any extensive system of published con- 

 toured lines. At present, I regret that the publication of a 

 correct map of Northumberland is further distant than I hoped. 

 Whenever it is accomplished, it will be found of great value, as 

 all existing maps of the county are extremely inaccurate. 



I must now bring to a close this brief and imperfect review of 

 the operations of our Society during the past year, and of colla- 

 teral circumstances connected with the objects for which we are 

 associated. The study of Natural History will, I trust, be found 

 worthy of increased attention in schools, and in general society. 

 The abundance of excellent books, at extremely moderate prices, 

 gives facilities for study such as never before existed. The Society 

 of Arts, in London, is making efforts, with great activity and 

 earnestness, to promote the collection and study of all useful 

 products ; and the Trade Museums in progress of formation, 

 under the immediate aid and auspices of that Society, are worthy 

 examples of what may and ought to be attempted in the towns 

 and villages of our Northern Counties. The occasional study of 



