clxxiv Proceedings. 



for a museum to be constructed at some future time in the roof ; 

 a large room for meetings of the Club, which would not be 

 appropriated entirely to Club purposes, but be held on terms 

 similar to those now in operation, and, of course, a library and 

 curator's room. I am not sure what other accommodation would 

 be required, but if you will give me the dimensions of such room 

 or rooms, I shall be in a position to formulate a scheme to be 

 submitted to the directors of the Institution. I am glad to say 

 that I am getting better, and may be able to occupy some of my 

 leisure time in endeavouring to bring about so desirable an 

 object. We probably may not be able to raise funds enough to 

 carry out all we propose as to internal completion, but we should 

 make the building substantial so as to be able to complete 

 according as funds were forthcoming for the purpose. If you 

 wUl give me this information, I may perhaps have to ask a 

 question or two upon it before I send you an abstract of my 

 proposals. — Believe me, yours faithfully, 



" Alfrkd Carpenter." 



To this letter I replied, also jm-officially, giving my views as 

 to the rooms we should require, and the conditions under which 

 we could probably become tenants. It is proposed that a Sub- 

 Committee be appointed to really consider the question. There 

 is no doubt that in view of certain alterations and enlargements 

 adequate and convenient accommodation could be obtained at 

 the Public Hall, where the work of our Club could be carried on 

 much more satisfactorily and comfortably than at present ; but 

 until this suggestion assumes a more definite form, it would be 

 as well not to indulge in anticipations. 



In conclusion, I would again urge every individual member to 

 do what he can to help on our Club in what I am sure all will 

 consider good work. Our meetings certainly ought to be better 

 attended, and I wish members would bring specimens to exhibit 

 at those meetings, either to describe for the benefit of others, or 

 to elicit information from others. I would also ask new mem- 

 bers, and especially strangers, to put themselves into communi- 

 cation with the Secretaries of the Sections in which they may 

 be interested, in order that they may meet with others who are 

 working at their favourite subjects. We are larger in point of 

 numbers than ever we have been, and we are certainly doing 

 more work : there is no reason at all why we should not go on 

 advancing. Nature is a large field, and Science is boundless : 

 we can never hope to investigate the whole of the one, or fathom 

 the depths of the other ; so that, although in the twenty-third 

 year of our existence as a Natural History Society, we are really 

 only just beginning. 



