THE WERNERIAN SOCIETY. 45 



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

 Lord Provost and Magistrates of Edinburgh, by virtue 

 of authority vested in them, granted the charter on the 

 10th February 1808 ; thus solemnly incorporating the 

 Society. 



The objects of this Society are simply the general 

 promotion of every branch of natural science. Some, 

 who are more disposed to cavil than to reflect, have 

 objected to the distinctive title assumed by the founders 

 of the Wernerian Society, as narrowing its scope. 

 Werner, it is true, is chiefly, if not exclusively, known 

 in Britain as a distinguished mineralogist. His know- 

 ledge, however, extended to every branch of natural 

 science, and is regarded, by those who have possessed 

 the singular advantage of his instruction, as equally re- 

 markable for its accuracy 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 distinctions 

 bestowed on Linnaeus in this country, and on other 

 eminent men on the Continent. The name implies 

 no determination blindly to support Werner's pe- 

 culiar views as may be shown from the published 

 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 most distin- 

 guished philosophers of Europe and America; and 



