REV, THOMAS RIDDELL's ADDRESS. 217 



benefit to be derived from them, does not terminate in the feelings of 

 admiration and delight. They conduce to the growth of a healthy- 

 frame of mind ; especially Avhen the naturalist sees in himself merely 

 the interpreter of Nature, and is content in sincerity and humility to 

 follow out the evidence of facts. The polemical and personal disputes 

 which have in turns disgraced theology, literature, and science, arise 

 from the pursuit of selfish aims, and those who have been involved in 

 them have seldom attained the highest grade. The most brilliant 

 discoveries and the largest views have generally rewarded the modest 

 and simple-minded. Science especially must be loved for its own sake, 

 and communicated from a desire to make others sharers in the 

 pleasures and benefits it confers. 



But I ought to apologize for stating truths with which you must 

 ah-eady be well acquainted. In this spirit of sincere, unadulterated 

 love of knowledge, the Club was founded, and on these principles its 

 proceedings have hitherto been conducted. While, therefore, I ask 

 your indulgence for my own deficiencies in discharging the office of 

 President, I cannot do better, as regards yourselves, than exhort you 

 to persevere in your usual course of patient observation, praiseworthy 

 exertion, and the friendly interchange of scientific information. 



Additions to the Popuhr Rhymes of Berwickshire. By James Hardy. 



As one gentleman connected with the Berwickshire Naturalists' 

 Club takes an interest in the popular sayings of Berwickshire, I sub- 

 join a few that occur to me for his consideration. Although their 

 literary merit may be no higher than Mother Shipton's Prophecies, 

 and similar productions, yet they may cast a light on the manners of 

 past ages, preserve the memory of obsolete superstition, and be the 

 sole records of events of which " a peasant's plaint prolongs the dubious 



date." 



" The oak, the ash, the elm tree, 

 The laird can hang for a' the thi'ee ; 

 But fir and saugh are but a weed. 

 The laird may flyte, bnt make naething becd." 



This rhyme is interesting, both as it may bear incidental evidence 

 to what were the indigenous and most valuable trees of the country, 

 and as it may be connected with history. It is well known that the 

 greater part of the south of Scotland was at one time overgrown with 

 forests, which, from various causes, became thinned and wasted, and 

 in many cases wholly extirpated. In the reign of James the Second 

 of Scotland, the Legislature made a vigorous effort to repair the 

 damage. A law was passed in 1457, " Anent plantation of woodes and 

 hedges, and sowing of broome," which ordains that the "tennentes 



