2 ON THK STUDY OF 



pursuits, agreed to collect specimens of the 

 various branches for the purpose of establishing 

 a small museum, such as might throw more light 

 upon the natural history of the Island ; and to 

 meet periodically, and communicate to each other 

 their ideas on the subject. Such was the basis 

 upon which the present Society was originally 

 founded ; and, though then confined to the island 

 productions only, its tendency, and the discus- 

 sions to which it gave rise, were well calculated 

 to contribute to philosophical improvements in 

 general. 



But the establishment of societies in various 

 parts of the kingdom upon a more enlarged sc,ale, 

 which should embrace every branch of useful 

 knowledge, and the rapid success and obviously 

 good effects of one of those associations in a 

 neighbouring town, naturally suggested the utility 

 of not confining the Island Institution to local 

 investigations only, or simply to natural history ; 

 but that the door should be open to every branch 

 of science within the compass of its members, 

 or upon which lecturers could be found who 

 were able and willing to assist it with their know- 

 ledge and talents. 



Under this comprehensive latitude, natural 

 history, embracing the whole of the attributes of 

 the Deity as far as can be recognized by our 

 limited senses, the laws by which they are go- 

 verned, and their practical utility and application 



