170 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 



as possible, in order that they who have schemes for reudering available 

 for a common object the scattered energies of the large body of earnest 

 students in the several societies of the Union may have an opportunity 

 of submitting them for consideration. 



Such views as I have on the subject I will lay before you. The 

 Union now consists of twenty-one Societies, and is, under its existing 

 constitution, managed by a Council consisting of two Members from each 

 of the Societies : that is, of forty-two members, with the prospect of 

 increase. This managing body is far too large for eflicient work, aiad 

 I suggest that the present Council be converted into an electoral 

 body, who shall appoint a committee for the general management of 

 the affairs of the Union, consisting of say ten members, the Editors of 

 the organ of the Union — the " Midland Naturahst " — to be members ex 

 officio. I beUeve by this means more concentrated attention to the work 

 would be secured, and a larger attendance at the meetings, for when 

 each individual member of a large committee has to travel far, and 

 sacrifice much time to attend a meeting, he will be but too ready to 

 excuse himself on the ground that with so many others his presence will 

 not be necessary; the inevitable consequence will be meetings rarely 

 attended, and probably by different members on each occasion. It is of 

 the utmost importance that a careful selection of men interested in the 

 work be made in the iirst instance, and as far as possible the same m.en 

 be present when the continuous work of the Union is transacted. 



I earnestly recommend that the subscription to the general funds of 

 the Union be reconsidered ; it was fixed at the ludicrously insufficient 

 sum of one penny per member ;* if it be intended that any real joint 

 work shall be done, and the organisation ntihsed as it may be, a larger 

 though still moderate subscription is absolutely necessary, and may be 

 profitably expended ; it is premature to enter into details of this 

 expenditure, but I may mention as an illustration of the necessity that 

 the cost of the progi-amme of the proceedings of this meeting would alone 

 exhaust the whole revenue of the Union, and this is only one of many 

 other items of legitimate expenditure for which provision ought to be 

 made out of a common fund. 



The pages of the " Midland Naturalist " form an excellent medium 

 of intercommunication for the Members of the Union, and all of them, 

 for their own and the general interest, ought to subscribe to it. This 

 journal at present is the only offspring of the Union ; although young^ it 

 is lusty and full of promise ; it may be safely prophesied that as long as 

 it succeeds, so long will the Union floui'ish ; it is, in fact, our Palladium, 

 our existence depends on its success. Such as can must render its pages 

 interesting by contributions of the results of their observations in the 

 various departments in Natural Science ; all must help to secure its 

 comnaercial success ; we are bound in honour to do this, for as we have 



*At the first meetinR of the representatives of the several Societies then 

 proposinR to join the Union there w:is a division of opinion as to the subscription 

 whicli would be necessary to carry out its objects, and it was only by a majority lixed 

 at a ]i(iiuy per member, upon the represontation thiit sneli snui liad been found to 

 bo siiUieiont by tlic experience of tlie Vorlsshiro Naturalises' Union; since which 

 date the Yorljshire Union has, in a circular addressed to its members, (printed iu 

 this number, p. IbO,) called attention to the obvious iuadequateness of this subscrip- 

 tion to defray the necessary expenses. 



