WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10th, 188s. 
INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
TWENTY YEARS OF THE SOCIETY'S HISTORY. 
Mr. J. E. HASLEWOOD, President. 
Tradition says that the Brighton and Sussex Natural History 
Society took its rise from a conversation between four gentlemen in- 
terested in Natural History during a ride in a fly from Lewes to 
Brighton some time in the year 1854. Unfortunately, I have not been 
able to see a copy of the first rules, but the idea of the founders seems 
to have been to establish a kind of semi-private Society, wherein 
gentlemen interested in Natural History could meet together, read, and 
discuss papers bearing upon their favourite studies, and more 
particularly carry on discussions, and so increase their pleasure in and 
add to their knowledge of the various subjects dealt with by the 
Society. It would seem that they in no way sought publicity, whilst, 
at the same time, they must have taken a lively interest in the matter, 
inasmuch as they obtained 74 members dnring their first year. Their 
first President was our dear old friend, Mr. Hollis, who has so 
recently passed away from us. The only gentlemen who then held 
office and who are now living, are Mr. Simonds (Treasurer), and 
Messrs. G. de Paris and Barclay Phillips (members of the Committee). 
The Society commenced the annual excursion during its first year, 
which excursion was to Ardingly Rocks, and it is worthy of note that 
it produced two papers, one from Mr. Hollis on the Geological Features 
of Ardingly, and the other from Mr. A. Wallis on the Flora of the 
Ardingly district. The Society started vigorously, as ten original 
papers were read during its first year, besides having many zoological, 
geological, botanical, and microscopical specimens exhibited at its 
monthly meetings. Then as now the finances were carefully 
looked after, and out of a total income of £37 for the year, a balance of 
£13 4s. 4d. was carried forward tothe next year. It is not my intention 
to trace the early history of the Society any further. It would seem 
to have gone on quietly and prosperously, so quietly that strangers 
coming to the town heard of it by accident. I came to Brighton in 
October, 1864, but I had been here four years before I heard of the 
existence of the Society, and then it was by an accident. I was 
elected a member of your honourable Society on the 12th November, 
1868. Our present Treasurer was then its President, and I well 
remember the pleasant impression given me at the first meeting I 
attended by the bright looks and courteous manners of the President. 
‘Mr. J. Colbatch Clark was then occupying the same office he now holds, 
and which he so ably filled during all ‘the intervening period, I well 
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