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■yt science — if we could not swim without them, down we must go ; and no theory, 

 however plausible, no attempted working up of the monkey into the man, and 

 after a Monboddo of La Marqueian fashion lopping off his tail to make a reason- 

 able being of him, no mere vestigian dreams wUl now enable us to take rank in 

 science, instead of ourselves by patient efifort moulding the ethereal figure that 

 must give life and spirit to the shapeless marble. Hence, observed Mr. Lees, 

 I haU the numerous Clubs and associations devoted to the study of natural 

 history now springing up on every side and in every county, because they all 

 inculcate observation and instigate research. As they rouse us from the slumbers 

 of vacuity and call upon us to exert our faculties in some useful way, so they all 

 offer us agreeable occupation, from the Entomologist seeking for the earth-bom 

 insect, through every hall and colonnade of scientific study, till we reach the 

 terminal escarpment of native rock, where the geologist leads us down the stone 

 steps of the palaeozoic crypt, where amidst the shadows of past ages all traces 

 of organic life are lost amidst igneous agency and chaotic confusion. 



Yet notwithstanding the pleasure we derive from that intercourse of emula- 

 tion that brightened up all our faculties, from the meetings that led us into 

 commimion with nature in picturesque localities, by babbUng streams, rocky 

 precipices, and Dryadean shades, how often was it asked us — what could there 

 be in'plants and fossils so fascinating and interesting as to induce us to take 

 long journeys and endure such fatigues in quest of them ? Or what adequate 

 remuneration was obtained ? Why, what limited ideas such questions must have — 

 for it might just as well be asked what benefit resulted from any mental pursuit 

 or even recreation ; what indeed was the use of eating and drinking ? It was 

 admitted that they must all eat and drink to hve, to enable the body to carry the 

 soul ; and then the soul required that superior aliment that was fitted to sustain 

 its intellectual powers. The mind of man was always sighing for something to do, 

 or to explore some fresh field of discovery ; Lucretius had observed ages ago that — 



" Twas sweet to cull new flowers " ; 



and in the various fields that nature stretched before our eager view, there was 

 always something to learn, and the hope of novelty was a continual spur to effort. 



The Ulimitable universe of enquiry was constantly expanding before our view, 

 and accompanied by the pilot of faithful observation such excursions would add 

 to our stock of knowledge, so that we not only made pleasant paths for ourselves, 

 but left a beaten track that could be made use of by our successors in the same 

 delightful studies. 



Thanking them again for their kind welcome, and feeling the importance of 

 Associations that thus brought observers together in the field, he would conclude 

 by proposing — Prosperity to the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club. (Applause). 

 -Mr. T. Baxter (from Worcester) also briefly acknowledged the compliment paid 

 to the Worcester Naturalists. 



