38 



have accomplished something worth an exertion. There was 

 an undying- pleasure in the study of natural history : it 

 made them wiser people, by imparting to each a knowledge 

 of the beauties of creation. Regarding their excursion to- 

 day, he felt they were deeply indebted to Mr. Irons, in 

 placing at their disposal and hiiuself taking command of 

 the steamer " Palmerston," which had been the means of 

 affording them a large amount of interest, and promising 

 them the vessel for any future excursion ; he therefore ten- 

 dered him a vote of tlianks in the name of the meeting. 

 With respect to the little difficulty in obtaining a dredge, 

 he thought it was time the Society should have dredges of 

 its own ; for there was a peculiarity about our shores and 

 subsoil, and wherever they found these peculiarities they 

 would be sure to find a peculiar race of animals. He 

 thought it was a happy thing that this meeting of the 

 Society had been postponed till that day, because they had 

 such beautiful weather, and every one seemed to have en- 

 joyed themselves very much. Mr. Irons, to whom their 

 best thanks was due, took a great interest in the Society, 

 and he had shewn his goodwill by placing at their disposal 

 his vessel, and conducting the members on their sea ex- 

 cursion personally. He thought, therefore, he was only 

 expressing the feelings of every member of the Society 

 when he proposed a cordial vote of thanks be passed to 

 Mr. Irons for his great kindness and attention, in giving 

 the use of the " Palmerston " and in himself taking the 

 command. (Applause.) 



Mr. IjEE said he should be very happy to present the So- 

 ciety with a dredge, remarking that for general dredging 

 and interesting specimens there was none to surpass the 

 East Coast of Kent, being one of the most productive in 

 the kinn-dom,. In proof of this he was in possession of a 

 most unique specimen of a double star-fish with fourteen 

 rays which he had shown to Dr. Carpenter, and which that 

 gentlemen pronounced to be a very line specimen. 



