178 



There is one branch of our pursuits, however, which does not admit of 

 pecimens, in the usual sense of the word — Meteorology. Yet it might be repre- 

 sented in your Museum — and I think ought to be — by preserving a copy of each 

 month's observations ; together with such periodical comments as the observer 

 might find cause to make. Nor is this by any means a subject of minor import- 

 ance ; for since every creature that breathes, and every blade of vegetation which 

 either delights the eye by its beauty, or the mind for its usefulness, is dependent 

 on Meteorological elements — surely an endeavour to ascertain the causes and 

 the laws of atmospheric variation should stand in the foremost rank of science ; 

 especially on considering that such knowledge may, and I believe must, tend to 

 elucidate some of the hidden phenomena of disease, both in the animal and the 

 vegetable worlds. And I incline to agree with a late writer in the North British 

 Review — however bold may sound his assertion, — " that had Hipparchus and 

 Ptolemy made hourly observations, and had their contemporaries and successors 

 in difierent parts of the world done the same, we might now have been predicting 

 the weather with as much certainty as we do the planetary motions." Light is, 

 however, beginning to break in upon us — order arising out of seeming irregularity 

 — for seeming it only is : — 



" All Nature is but Art unknown to thee, 

 All Chance, Direction w^hich thou can'st not see." 



What Geology has done and is doing for the earth. Meteorology wiU do for 

 the air ; the one has unveiled some of the great mysteries of ages — of the very 

 existence of which few ever dreamed ; the other wUl develop secrets of the 

 atmosphere whose benefits can hardly yet be estimated — or overestimated. 



Even from the slight sketch I have given of your projected Museum, I think 

 it wUl appear that the County of Hereford, and the adjoining district, are pecu- 

 liarly interested in its establishment ; and I earnestly hope, that on appealing 

 for support, it wUl not be denied. For two or three considerations only, I cannot 

 but deem that support certain. In the first place, our Club, with few exceptions, 

 is composed of Hereford and Herefordshire men. Next, they are, for the most 

 part, men practically following out some specific branch of knowledge. Among 

 them are those who rank high in the world of science ; and others who energetically 

 following their philosophic vocation, are not the less valuable in the class of the 

 scientific, though they may not have attained the same distinction ; those who 

 ably back an able general, share their leader's renown. Add to this the fact, 

 that I believe all who have formed, or are forming, local collections of Natural 

 History, in its branches of Geolog)', Botany, Ornithology, Zoology, Entomology, 

 and Ichthyology, have promised to place such collections in the Museum of the 

 WooLHOPE Naturalists' Field Club. Though I am not, myself, a native of 

 your city or county, I cannot help speaking strongly on this subject ; and say, 

 emphatically, to both county and city, that if you would reflect honour on your- 

 selves — if you would hold out the right hand of fellowship to native talent — if 

 you would mairk your approbation of contemporary mind and merit — and if you 

 would encourage in the rising generation a desire to emulate and to surpass its 

 predecessors — you ought to support a Museum, dedicated to the illustration of 



