158 Natural History in the English Counties. 
hatched seven young ones, which grew to the size of pheasants; but then 
they and their mother died, it was supposed, from exposure to the sun. The 
cock was turned out, and lived two years in the fir plantations ; he was then 
killed accidentally. The gentleman who made the attempt intends to renew 
it, and has much expectation of final success. 
I shall be glad if these facts be considered worthy of a place in your 
interesting Magazine. Iam, Sir, yours, &.— 4. G. Jan. 5. 1830. 
Norfolk and Norwich Museum. — The Fifth Annual Meeting of this Institution was held in the 
Society’s Rooms, in Norwich, on Nov. 25., Dawson Turner, Esq., having taken the chair, addressed 
the subscribers to the following effect : — 
** As this is the first opportunity which has been allowed me of meeting you, I trust that, before 
we proceed to the business of the day, I shall be permitted, for a few moments, to trespass upon 
your time, chiefly for the purpose of returning you my thanks for the honour you have done me 
in electing me to this chair. 1 do assure you that I very deeply feel, and very sensibly appreciate, 
the distinction thus bestowed upon me; for it is virtually nothing less than nominating me to be 
the head of the naturalists of this opulent, enlightened, and scientific county : and, when I speak 
of Norfolk as a county distinguished for the love and the pursuit of science, Iam by no means 
using words of course, or wishing to flatter the self-love of you or my fellow-countrymen at the 
expense of truth. I do, indeed, feel that Norfolk is deserving of such an epithet. 1 remember, 
about thirty vears ago, being in company with one of the most distinguished naturalists of Europe, 
and at the same time with a botanist from a distant part of England, who had been upon a visit in 
Norfolk. The former, congratulating the other upon what he had seen and gathered, observed 
that there must of necessity be some singular advantage in the soil, the climate, or the position of 
Norfolk, which made it so celebrated as abounding in the rarer productions of nature; and was 
not a little astonished when told that, on the contrary, Norfolk was one of the districts of England 
the least favoured in those respects, and that any preeminence she might enjoy was altogether 
owing to the industry and talents with which her resources had been investigated and developed. 
Such an assertion is certainly startling at first ; but when I call to mind that, in the short space of 
my own life, I have known and associated with such men as Sir James Smith, Mr. Crowe, Mr. 
Woodward, Dr. Rigby, Mr. Whitear, Mr. Burrell, Mr. Bryant, Mr. Wegg, Dr. Hooker, Professor 
Lindley, and very many others whose names have at this moment escaped me, all of them natives 
of, or residents in, Norfolk, its probability will be easily admitted and its truth acknowledged. With 
regard to the value and importance of museums in general, I feel that it would be entirely out of 
place to attempt to enlarge upon a point so universally admitted and so fully appreciated by every 
gentleman present. Asa centre of union for men of taste and science ; as a receptacle for objects 
which would otherwise be neglected or dispersed or lost, or, if neither lost, dispersed, nor neglected, 
would be hidden in the obscurity of private houses; as the means of forming the minds of the 
young to pursuits the most worthy, by exciting their curiosity, and teaching them the value and 
the pleasure of mental cultivation ; and as a most delightful source of information to men of every 
age, who hence acquire more exalted ideas of their Creator, and learn, more and more, to look 
through Nature up to Nature’s God: inall these, and in many other respects, the value and the 
importance of museums are neither to be denied nor doubted. With respect to our own museum, in 
particular, I feel there is the strongest room for our self-congratulation. It is, indeed, an infant 
in years, but, in growth, it has attained a degree of maturity which is really surprising. When 
I look about me, and see the various objects of art and of nature with which IT am surrounded, I 
cannot but be impressed with the greatest thankfulness, first to the extended patronage of the 
public ; then to the numerous gentlemen who have favoured us with donations; and the last, not 
least, to the labour of the committee who have directed this establishment. In speaking of the 
exertions of this committee, it is not necessary for my expressions of gratitude to be checked by 
any false delicacy ; for I cannot be supposed to be arrogating any merit to myself: I joined them 
only at the twelfth hour ; in time, indeed, to see and to appreciate the value of their labours, but not 
to take a part in them. Indeed, during the last year or two, it might at first view be supposed that 
their labours had been, in a great degree, relaxed; for the committee had felt it their duty to 
abstain from making any purchases, or even from taking steps to display a considerable portion of 
what we possess, feeling it a paramount duty to apply themselves mainly to the extinction of the 
debt which, but two years ago, hung over us as an incubus, and threatened our destruction. This 
debt is now happily reduced from 4002. to little more than 50. ; and, in the course of two years, 
will, without any extraordinary effort, be altogether annihilated. The rather have I cause to con- 
gratulate you upon the present state of the Institution, which no one of us could have expected at 
its outset to have seen in the present flourishing condition ; and of which I must be allowed to say, 
as the poet of the Jerusalem Delivered of his favourite hero, but 
. ** Leta precorse e la speranza e i fiori 
Presti furean, quando n’ usciro i fioretti.*’ 
Again to advert to myself, I am the more flattered by the situation in which I am placed, inas- 
much as I am the successor to one who was confessedly the first-rate naturalist, not only of Nor- 
folk but of England, and not only of England but of Europe. With Sir James Smith J had the 
happiness of maintaining an uninterrupted friendship for thirty vears ; I esteemed and I loved him 
whilst alive; and, so long as I myself shall live, I never shall cease to dwell with affectionate 
regard upon his memory, Whether in public or in private life, Sir James Smith was a man who 
was highly estimated. His talents and his time were always devoted to the public, and always to 
doing good. By his works he has erected to himself an imperishable monument ; and upon every 
occasion, in these works, he has uniformly studied to promote the happiness of mankind and the 
glory of God. As possessor of the Linnean Herbarium, his conduct was at ali times eminently 
liberal, opening its treasures, without reserve, to men of every rank and station, and of every 
clime. As founder and president of the Society which equally bears the name of the great Lin- 
neus, hisamiable and condescending affability won him the regard of every member of that body, 
whilst that establishment gave a character and a permanency, and an importance to the study of 
natural history in England, which it could not otherwise have attained. While proud to be his 
successor, I feel how much I must suffer in comparison with such aman; hut 1 will not pay you 
so ill a compliment as to dwell on my unworthiness to occupy his chair. It is sufficient for me 
that you have thought fit to elect me to it; and my endeavour shall not be wanting to discharge 
