collection of the natural objects of the neighbourhood, both of extant and 

 extinct life, properly named and arranged, wo^ild be felt to be a very great boon 

 to many members who wish to know something about such things, but have 

 not the time or perhaps the knowledge to go into the matter by themselves. 



I see no reason also why such a museum should not be open to the public 

 inspection, and perchance such a privilege might awaken the love of the study 

 of creation iu minds before totally ignorant of it, and this would surely be a 

 result which would be most pleasing to every member of this Society, for I con- 

 eider one chief use of a society of this kind is a diffusion of the love of the study 

 of nature, and, I think, a good museum would be a very powerful auxiUary in 

 such a good work. 



Thirdly, I would urge the establishment of a museum for the sake of 

 having a suitable room for meetings and for our library, which, I trust some 

 day, will be larger than it is at present. 



This Society has a name, I trust, of some reputation, why should we not 

 have a local habitation as well? And then, if in connection with this Society, 

 we are able to introduce evening scientific soirees' and lectures, and I see no 

 diflSculty in this, what a comfort and convenience a good room would be. 

 Therefore, for the three good, and as I think sufficient reasons : first, of impart- 

 ing more zeal to those already conversant with the various departments of 

 science ; secondly, of imparting instruction to those who are not so, and, per- 

 haps, stirring up some love for natural science, and lastly, of giving the Society 

 a better position, and of enabling it, if so disposed, to widen its sphere of 

 usefulness. I certaiialy think that we should endeavour to carry out this 

 83heme. I have said that this is not the place to enter into any discussion 

 respecting the ways and means for establishing such a scheme, or to combat 

 the difficulties and objections which are sure to be raised against it, and I intend 

 to keep my word, but I cannot refrain in concluding my notice of this subject, 

 saying, that whatever these difficulties or objections may be, and I doubt not 

 they will be many and wiU be serious, yet. if this Society is in earnest, they will 

 findthe truth of the old proverb, that " Where there is a willthere is a way." 



Mr. Curley's discoveries of Boa longifrons and Cervus Elephas, in the 

 valley of the Lugg, point, I think, to a most interesting and important branch 

 of geological research, which I would recommend to the notice of our geological 

 members. As far as I know, recent and pleistocene geology has not received 

 much attention in this county, and to my mind there is no more attractive 

 branch of the science of geology, as it is so closely linked with Ethnology. 



Passing on now from subjects of comparatively local interest, I will 

 briefly remark on some topics of general scientific importance. 



Deep Sea Dredgings.— There have been of late few more interesting 

 and important scientific investigations than those carried on by Dr. Carpenter 

 >nd his colleagues, Professor "Wyville Thompson, and Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys, in 



