328 STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



as to the expediency of contributing papers, and 

 thereby impoverishing the Transactions of older 

 societies, at a time when the higher walks of science 

 were becoming nearly deserted. Happily, however, 

 these doubts and fears have been dissipated, and the 

 Association has rapidly grown into a large, influ- 

 ential, and energetic body. It is composed not only 

 of men whose names are already known, but a very 

 large number of juniors, particularly from the uni- 

 versities ; and these have been joined by many 

 influential individuals, attached to intellectual pur- 

 suits, who, by their countenance and support, up- 

 hold the cause of science in the eyes of the public. 

 The terms of admission, therefore, are easy ; and 

 the pecuniary contribution very small. The pro- 

 ceedings of the Association differ materially from 

 all those we have yet noticed. The meetings are 

 annual, but, instead of being held at one place, the 

 members assemble every year at some one of the great 

 towns or cities of the empire. York, Oxford, Cam- 

 bridge, and Edinburgh have already witnessed this 

 intellectual jubilee ; for such it may be truly called, 

 since it brings together men of known reputation and 

 of congenial pursuits, separated by distance from per- 

 sonal intercourse. It may readily be supposed that 

 such meetings unite all the advantages of those held 

 by the stationary societies, with many others they 

 cannot possess ; and that a spirit of excitement and 

 of tempered conviviality enlivens the whole ; giving 

 to this assembling together of the votaries of science 

 the charm and the relaxation of a holiday week. 

 Yet there is still work to be done : the members 

 are arranged into parties or sections, according to 



