THE WEllNERIAN SOCIETY. 45 



be applied for ; and accordingly, this being done, the 

 the Lord Provost and Magistrates of Edinburgh, by 

 virtue of authority vested in them, granted the char- 

 ter on the 10th February 1808; thus solemnly in- 

 corporating the Society. 



The objects of this Society are simply the gene- 

 ral promotion of every branch of natural science. 

 Some, who are more disposed to cavil than to re- 

 flect, have objected to the distinctive title assumed 

 by the founders of the Wernerian Society, as nar- 

 rowing its scope. Werner, it is true, is chiefly< if 

 not exclusively, known in Britain as a distinguished 

 mineralogist. His knowledge, however, extended 

 to every branch of natural science, and is regarded, 

 by those who have possessed the singular advantage 

 of his instruction, as equally remarkable for its ac- 

 curacy as for its extent. 



The honourable compliment paid to Werner's me- 

 rits, as a man of science, ought to be considered, 

 what it really is, as analogous to similar distinc- 

 tions bestowed on Linnseus in this country, and on 

 other eminent men on the continent. The name 

 implies no determination blindly to support Werner's 

 peculiar views — as maybe shown from the publish- 

 ed memoirs, which contain undeniable proofs of free- 

 dom of discussion. 



The Society has now existed upwards of twenty- 

 seven years, during which period its records have 

 been graced with the names of all the m.ost distin- 

 guished philosophers of Europe and America ; and 



