THE WONDERS OF THE SHORE. 225 
aud that there is less fear than ever that the clergy 
of the Church of England should have to relinquish 
their ancient boast—that since the formation of 
the Royal Society in the seventeenth century, they 
have done more for sound physical science than any 
other priesthood or ministry in the world. Let me 
advise anyone who may do me the honour of reading 
these pages, to discover whether such a Club or 
Society exists in his neighbourhood, and to join it 
forthwith, certain that—if his experience be at all 
like mine—he will gain most pleasant information 
and most pleasant acquaintances, and pass most 
pleasant days and evenings, among people whom 
he will be glad to know, and whom he never would 
have known save for the new—and now, I hope, 
rapidly spreading—freemasonry of Natural History. 
Meanwhile, I hope—though I dare not say I trust 
—to see the day when the boys of each of our 
large schools shall join—like those of Marl- 
borough and Clifton—the same freemasonry; and 
have their own Naturalists’ Clubs; nay more; 
when our public schools and universities shall 
YQ 
