Sheppard : Hull's Contyibutioii to Science. 237 



which, I beHeve, is still in the possession of Mr. E. S. Wilson, 

 of Hull. The papers were never printed. 



Half a century ago Hull had a 'Micro-Philosophical Society' — 

 a curious title, subsequently changed to the Hull Natural History 

 and Microscopic Society. George Norman, William Hendry, 

 and a few others met at the Royal Institution bi-monthly, and 

 published the very valuable results of their work in the ' Micro- 

 scopical Journal' and other publications. The 'Diatom' fever 

 was then at its height, and almost everyone fortunate enough 

 to possess the then expensive luxury, the microscope, sampled 

 drains, ditches, ponds, and earth in search of these beautiful 

 and varied forms of life. 



The Hull Microscopic Society — consisting of gentlemen who 

 met alternately at each other's private residences — also flourished 

 at that time, and supplied articles to the London scientific 

 journals dealing with the work accomplished. Probably the 

 portrait of Dr. Henry Cooper sitting at a table with his micro- 

 scope, now hung in the Council Room at the Royal Institution, 

 is a relic of one of these enthusiasts. 



In the early 'eighties the Hull Field Naturalists' Society was 

 founded, its scope being well indicated by its title. Its members 

 met at the Royal Institution. Somehow, however, interest in 

 its work seemed to ' fag,' new members were difficult to obtain, 

 and a few years ago the Society ' amalgamated ' with the Hull 

 Scientific Club, which consisted for the most part of younger 

 men, and was founded in 1886. The Field Naturalists' Society 

 numbered amongst its earlier members the late E. Peak, Mr. 

 N. F. Dobree, Mr. J. Stears, Mr, G. H. Hill, and others. It 

 issued no publications, however, and few records of its work 

 appear to exist. The Hull Scientific Club (called the Hull 

 Scientific and Field Naturalists' Club since the amalgamation) 

 has always encouraged young workers as well as older men, and 

 its present flourishing condition is no doubt largely due to this fact. 

 In 1898 it issued the first of a series of Transactions — a modest 

 pamphlet of 28 pages, and since then each annual publication 

 has increased in size, the volume for 1902 having over 250 pages. 

 These volumes contain papers read at the club's meetings, and 

 are of some value, inasmuch as they contain original papers of 

 local interest only. 



The first meetings of the Scientific Club were held in a small 

 room in Scale Lane, and, after two or three changes as the 

 membership increased, is now lodged in the Young People's 

 Institute. 



1903 July 1. 



