528 
ing with many. How many matters do we ascertain, 
not merely from positive and laborious study, but 
accidental conversations with persons but meanly 
informed upon the subjects discoursed of! You will 
have nobody to question your authority at Nor- 
wich; the consequence of this will be, that if you: 
once settle in any error, such is our infirmity, you 
will continue in it. Then how will you from time 
to time be aware of the new discoveries which may 
be made? 
If you are not here upon the spot, you will in 
this respect be greatly behind others. But all these 
things will keep you out of sight. You ought to 
be always in the centre, and the ruling and anima- 
ting power. I hear you propose being three months 
in town; that is not sufficient ;—reverse it ;—be 
nine months here, andthree at Norwich. Then 
again the concerns of the Linnean Society will 
require more attendance than three months. The 
scheme of vice-presidents is proper enough, but a 
substitute (for such after all is a vice-president) can- ° 
not give life like the principal. And yet much do 
we want life; when recourse has been had to several 
persons in the room, and scarcely one has been 
prevailed on to take the chair, many have been 
disgusted and their ardour cooled. 
Do think upon all these things before it be too 
late. 
The more the Society flourishes, the more credit 
to the President: if the Society dwindles away, the 
President has an empty name. 
What credit has the potentate of a barren land, 
