18 Transactions of the 



but learners 1) must bear in mind that the Society expects them to 

 give more than ordinary attention to their own science, and to 

 leave no stone unturned by which good results may be obtained. 

 Better have no Sections at all than have them mere listless shams, 

 than mere vox etprceterea nihil. I do from my heart wish to see this 

 Society a real honest one, heartily and zealously pursuing its stateil 

 aims, and doing some little good in the world, I cannot but think 

 that there are many members willing to exert themselves, if they 

 only knew how to do it, but who, from a distrust in their own 

 powers, and a bashfulness only natural in the young and inex- 

 perienced, shrink from coming forward as readers of papers, from 

 speaking at the meetings, or, in fact, taking any active part in the 

 Society's operations, unless regular attendance and careful listening 

 be considered activity. My good fellows, you only need encourage- 

 ment, and that encouragement the senior and more forward mem- 

 bers ought to give you. For my own jDart, I shall be indeed 

 happy to tell you anything I can, or suggest to you various ways 

 in which you may contribute your mite to the general welfare of 

 the Society. You might try to help us with the Museum, asking 

 your friends for contributions to it, and looking out for suitable 

 specimens yourselves. Indeed I always value the boys' own con- 

 tributions more than any others, for I think such gifts tend to 

 make the Museum fulfil one of its greatest objects. You might 

 also bring interesting objects to exhibit at the Society's meetings, 

 and you need not be the least ashamed to read a short paper, even 

 one of five minutes. We will give you a patient hearing, I assure 

 you. If you don't know subjects, I can suggest them to you : 

 if you have not good books of reference, or proper means of illus- 

 tration, I think I can often help you there as well. And when I 

 speak for myself here, there are various other members, both masters 

 and boys, who will just as readily assist you. There is plenty of 

 work for us all, and the blame will lie at our own door if we do 

 not make the Clifton College Scientific Society fulfil the wishes of 

 those who founded it, and those who have directed it in its early 

 days, reaping a rich harvest of pleasure and improvement for our- 

 selves, and sowing seed which will blossom and bear fruit for the 

 many generations that are to come. 



In conclusion, gentlemen, I thank you for the patient hearing 

 you have given me during a long speech. My subject is perhaps 

 trite and commonplace, but it is well to be reminded occasionally 

 of our duty; and I sincerely trust that my remarks may stir up 

 in many here to-night a little more enthusiasm and a little more 

 zeal than are at present exhibited. I have said nothing till now 

 of some pleasant points about our Society that are very encou- 

 r.aging, and form the silver-lining to the cloud, if cloud there be 



