328 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY- 
as to the expediency of contributing papers, and 
thereby impoverishing the Transactions of older 
societies, at a time when the higher walks of science 
were becoming nearly deserted. Happily, however, 
these doubts and fears have been dissipated, and the 
Association has rapidly grown into a large, influ- 
ential, and energetic body. It is composed not only 
of men whose names are already known, but a very 
large number of juniors, particularly from the uni- 
versities; and these have been joined by many 
influential individuals, attached to intellectual pur- 
suits, who, by their countenance and support, up- 
hold the cause of science in the eyes of the public. 
The terms of admission, therefore, are easy ; and 
the pecuniary contribution very small. The pro- 
ceedings of the Association differ materially from 
all those we have yet noticed. The meetings are 
annual, but, instead of being held at one place, the 
members assemble every year at some one of the great 
towns or cities of the empire. York, Oxford, Cam- 
bridge, and Edinburgh have already witnessed this 
intellectual jubilee; for such it may be truly called, 
since it brings together men of known reputation and 
of congenial pursuits, separated by distance from per- 
sonal intercourse. It may readily be supposed that 
such meetings unite all the advantages of those held 
by the stationary societies, with many others they 
cannot possess; and that a spirit of excitement and 
of tempered conviviality enlivens the whole; giving 
to this assembling together of the votaries of science 
the charm and the relaxation of a holiday week. 
Yet there is still work to be done: the members 
are arranged into parties or sections, according to 
