Proceedings. 49 



Evening Meeting. — November 10th, 1882. 



The President, Mr. W. H. Tyndall, delivered the Pre- 

 sidential Address : — 



" On a former occasion, when I had the honour of addressing 

 the Club at the opening of another session, I remarked that 

 this Society was not confined to the study of any one branch 

 of Natural History, but that it possessed the advantage of 

 having all Nature open to the investigation of its members, 

 and that each one might contribute interesting information 

 on some point which was more especially within the scope of 

 his taste or within the sphere of his observations. Natural 

 History, popularly so regarded, seems to have been limited in 

 the minds of many to the consideration of animal life ; but 

 it really embraces the study of Nature under all its aspects. 

 I pui'pose this evening to confine myself to a branch of 

 Natural History less popularly known as Natural History — 

 that is. Physical Geography; and I think a general survey of 

 the Earth's surface will afford matter for much interesting 

 and pleasant consideration. Those of us who are charmed 

 with a beautiful prospect, and it is not everyone who does 

 appreciate a fine view, for it requires some cultivation in that 

 direction, or natural taste, to perceive in their fulness the 

 beauties of a landscape, — I say those who do appreciate a 

 beautiful view, whether extensive or not, will perceive con- 

 siderable variety in the forms which meet the eyes ; and this 

 variety is an important element in the consideration of a 

 prospect. It is one of the elements, when rightly observed 

 and understood, which affords most delight. We can behold 

 at one view only a comparatively small portion of the Earth's 

 surface, even from a high elevation ; but, having seen a fine 

 prospect, the mind recalls the scene with delight, although 

 the eyes cease to behold it. Thus the mind may be so stored 

 with good descriptions, of the varied scenery of the Earth's 

 surface that similar delight may be felt, though in less degree, 

 from the perusal of graphic descriptions of the country we 

 have never seen. 



"On examining good maps, and, still better, a terrestrial 

 globe, we see that of the Earth's surface about two-fifths is 



