18 



of the peat and gravel above the lias, which must have been the 

 top soil when the burial took place, throw it back to a very 

 remote age, and give it an interest that leads us to hope it may 

 sliortly be made the suljject of a separate communication to the 

 Club. 



And having, now, said thus much respecting tlie particular 

 researches which this Club should endeavour to carry on, with a 

 view to collecting materials for a complete Natural History of 

 Bath and the surrounding country, — liaAdng also made some 

 remarks on the sciences in general, and the advantages of 

 association in our respective pursuits,— it is time that I should 

 pass on to the consideration of the practical working of the Club 

 — the way iu which we may hope most successfully to conduct 

 our labours, the way, also, in v/hich we may best deal with the 

 results obtained. 



The plan which has been of late adopted respecting the 

 excursions may, I think, still be kept to, viz., that of having 

 from four to six (as judged desirable) field-days in the year*, 

 when we may hope for the largest attendance of members, the 

 attendance of those especially who, from their professional 

 engagements or other business, are unable to attend oftener, and 

 more frequent meetings — weekly or fortnightly, as preferred — 

 of the few who may wish, and who have it in their poAver, to join 

 in a common ramble on the days appointed. On all these 

 occasions the party, as I observed before, might either keep 

 together, or break up into sections, for more unrestrained work 

 in their respective departments, re-uuiting at the end of the day, 

 as thought convenient. The places to be visited on field-days, 

 and the objects in view, should be arranged beforehand, and 

 notice of the same suspended, as now, at the Literary and 

 Scientific Institution, for the information of all. The directions 

 Avhich the walks may take on other days may be left to be fixed 

 at the time by those who join in them, and they may carry out 

 any plan, for the occasion, they please. Only I should hope they 



