8 



might not be desirable to break up into even more than two 

 sections, according to the prevailing tastes of the members 

 present, and the objects they have in view. 



If Antiquities have of late years attracted the attention of the 

 Club more, perhaps, than other subjects, — it has been mainly 

 due to the circumstance of the whole number of members 

 having been hitherto small, with very few naturalists among 

 them. But now that the number seems to be increasing, we 

 may fairly hope that Natural History will in proportion have 

 an increased number of followers. I need not dwell here upon 

 the rich stores which are open to the Antiquary in this neigh- 

 bourhood, — especiallyinBathitself and theimmediate precincts, 

 — where so much has turned up, carrying us back to the days 

 of occupation of this place by the Eomans, — altars, portions 

 of the great temple of Minerva, sepulchral remains, coins, and 

 various other articles of interest; — nor need I stop to point 

 out the numerous ancient mansions, churches, &c., to be met 

 with in more distant rambles from the city. They are too well 

 known to require mention, and they have been mostly already 

 visited by the Club, and in many instances well described and 

 illustrated by our valuable member, the Kev. H. M. Scarth, to 

 whom the public are so much indebted for his labours in this 

 department. 



But leaving the subject of Antiquities, I pass on to other 

 matters of which I think the club might take cognizance. I 

 conceive everything connected with topography (taking a hint 

 from the caravan of Dalecarlian naturalists before spoken of) 

 — everything which throws light upon the manners of the 

 people and their mode of life, either now or at any former 

 period, — provincial words — etymology of the names of places 

 — local sayings — obsolete customs — superstitions and so forth, 

 — all this might be followed out as a legitimate object of 

 inquiry, — in addition to what relates to the physical features 

 of the district, its geology, or its natural history. And there 

 is yet another subject I would recommend to the notice of any 

 members of this Club, who are inclined to take it up, — and 

 that is the climate of Bath and its meteorology. When we 

 consider how much Bath is resorted to by invalids — avail- 

 ing themselves, in the winter especially, of its undoubtedly 

 milder climate at that season — it is of much importance that we 

 should know on far better data than any we possess at pi'esent, 

 or which at least have been made public, what is the exact 

 difference between its mean temperature and that of other 

 places lying farther either to the E. or W. — not merely in 

 winter, but at each respective season of the year — taken in 

 connection with its mean rainfall and humidity, nor over- 

 looking the position of the city, situated as it is in a boson 



