19 



were also a number of microscopes exhibited by Dr. Pittock, 

 Mr. Dowker, and Mr. Tucker. 



James Standuing, Esq., Mayor of Margate, having been 

 elected to the chair, proceeded to open the business. He 

 said it would ill become him to occupy the time of the meet- 

 ing when there were other gentlemen present to address 

 them, much better able than himself to afford amusement 

 and instruction. lie could not, however, avoid expressing 

 his regret on account of the thin attendance at the meeting. 

 The smallness of the attendance was no proof that the peo- 

 ple of Margate were indifferent to the claims of Natural 

 History, but that they were great friends to the cause of 

 education. It had happened unfortunately that a festival 

 for the entertainment of the children connected with the 

 Church Schools had been fixed for that afternoon, and a 

 great many of those who would otherwise have been present 

 on that occasion were engaged in it, which would in some 

 measure account for their not having a good meeting. He 

 felt persuaded there was no science so well calculated as 

 Natural History to improve the taste and elevate the mind. 

 (Hear, hear.) In nature everything was beautiful— every- 

 thing perfect and in order. There was no bad admixture 

 of colours, and the more they studied the simple yet beau- 

 tiful combinations of nature the more their tastes were 

 likely to improve. They saw in nature the effects and 

 manifestations of infinite wisdom and infinite love. The 

 air, the earth, the sea were all teeming with life, and every 

 plant and insect — every created thing sought sustenance 

 from God and acknowledged its obligation to an Almighty 

 Power for the food which it received. (Cheers.) After 

 alluding briefly to indications of the power of reason evi- 

 denced in some of the lower orders of created beini's Mr. 

 Standring proceeded to ask why the earth is teeming with 

 life and beauty ? Why do beautiful flowers cluster in the 

 fields .» Why are the skies studded with beautiful stars } 

 Why was everything in nature calculated to afford pleasure 

 and knowledge to man .' Why— but because God wishes 



