E. W. Binney. 463 



a similar manner, and determined to make it independent. Un- 

 fortunately he waited too long. His views are preserved in a 

 speech he made at the Geological Society on the transference of 

 its museum. It is in the proceedings of that Society as follows : 



( Vol. VIII. Annual Meeting held in Museum, Peter Street, on 

 Tuesday, October 27, 1868. G. C. Greenwell, Esq., F.G.S., 

 President, in the chair.) 



Page 10. Mr. Binney : f You are to consider what, in the 

 event of getting rid of your museum, you are to do for a meeting 

 place for this Society. There is now no Natural History Society. 

 I hold that geology is to be advanced as a science, not merely by 

 young boys in classes at college, but by practical amateur culti- 

 vators. Manchester has always stood preeminent for working 

 scientific men. What have we to hope from Owens College with 

 regard to our Society? Look back to see what its professors 

 have done for us. When we are in the city of Dalton, the Henrys, 

 Hodgkinson, Roberts, and a host of men who have raised it to 

 its present position, why should we look to universities or colleges ? 

 What help has been received from them in building up this great 

 hive of industry ? It has nearly all been done by amateurs and 

 practical men. I should like to ask gentlemen connected with 

 the coal trade of Lancashire what assistance they have had from 

 professors of science, either at Owens or any other college ; or 

 what they expect for the advancement of the sciences of geology 

 and mining from colleges, or young boys brought up at colleges ? 

 A college certainly can educate a man, no one doubts that ; and 

 a good man when well educated will be better than one without 

 education ; but still, it is impossible to have men made to order 

 by colleges and other similar institutions. I consider that a city 

 and a district like ours should have a Geological Society with a 

 museum independent of a college. The latter may give a taste 

 for geology, but for the advancement of the science a society is 



needed.' 



Although beginning with an objection to colleges, he acknow- 

 ledges their value before he ends. But he ceased to attend the 

 meetings of the Geological Society here. 



