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PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 



can boast — from all we have culled the sweets of knowledge, and 

 I think we are not unmindful of our debt. Few, if any, local 

 societies can boast of so many distinguished practical naturalists ; 

 and ours is the repoach if we do not maintain in Newcastle a 

 reputation worthy of old Thomas Bewick, who has left us his 

 mantle. It is a wise regulation of our Club which limits the 

 expenses of our meetings to a sum within the reach of all, and 

 enables many a young lover of nature to secure a healthful holi- 

 day far away from the daily drudgery of the desk. Fully can we 

 all reciprocate the feelings of our friend, who lay down on Gun- 

 nerton Crags, and exclaimed, " I do not believe to-day in the 

 existence of such a place as the Quayside of Newcastle." But 

 as we accept Lord Bacon's maxim, that the end of all study is 

 fruity we have endeavoured, when our northern climate precludes 

 research in the field, to carry on our studies in the closet, and to 

 dispense th^ fruit at our Evening Meetings. 



The First Evening Meeting of the year was held on the 

 8th December, when we were honoured with the presence of Mr. 

 Sopwith and Mr. Glaisher, both distinguished as meteorologists. 

 Mr, Glaisher presented a copy of the " Proceedings of the Green- 

 wich Natural History Club," and expressed, on behalf of that 

 Society, his interest in our prosperity. As the subject of meteor- 

 ology has recently been entered into with much interest by our 

 Society, and has at length occupied its due place in our " Transac- 

 tions," I need scarcely enlarge upon Mr. Sopwith's most valuable 

 address, which is already in print, and, through that gentleman's 

 kindness, is in the hands of most of us. I would only remind 

 you, in passing, of the lucid manner in which Mr. Sopwith sets 

 forth the practical utility of the study, especially to farmers and 

 fishermen, and th« very munificent offer of H. G. the Duke of 

 Northumberland to contribute one half the expense of establish- 

 ing a series of posts for simple meteorological observatories along 

 our coasts; an offer which we trust will be met in the spirit 

 which originally prompted it. Mr. Sopwith illustrated his 

 address by models of his barometrical indicator. 



Mr. Glaisher also addressed us at length on the subject of 

 meteorological observations, giving much practical advice on the 



