238 Sheppard : Hull's Contribution to Science. 



The Hull Geolog'ical Society was founded in 1888, and' has 

 met reg'ularly in the Royal Institution. Since 1894 it has issued 

 a small volume of Transactions periodically, containing- par- 

 ticulars of papers read at its meetings and of work done in the 

 field. Mr. J. W. Stather and Dr. F. F. Walton are prominent 

 members, and to these gentlemen the formation and present 

 condition of the society is largely due. 



A few remarks relating to those who have done and are doing 

 so nrach in the local paths of science may not now be out of 

 place. To some of these reference has already been made. 

 I believe in every instance it is interesting to note the work 

 accomplished has been as a hobby, and quite apart from the 

 professional callings of the respective authors. 



To a large extent bygone Hull naturalists and scientific men 

 are now known by the amount of work they published. There 

 were doubtless many who were very influential and did good 

 and conscientious work of whom we know but little, simply 

 because they were- reluctant to put pen to paper. Unless one 

 places the results of his work in some permanent form, it soon 

 becomes lost to the world — a couple of generations usually 

 suffices to delete him altogether from scientific history. 



One of Hull's foremost scientific worthies was unquestionably 

 William Spence, F.R.S., F.L.S. Though not born at Hull,* he 

 was so intimately connected with the town, and accomplished so 

 much work whilst residing at Drypool, that he cannot well be 

 omitted. Locally, he was probably best known as a partner in 

 the firm of Blundell, Spence & Co., and as the first Editor of 

 the Hull ' Rockingham,' a noted Whig newspaper, which started 

 in 1808 and survived till 1843. In 1807 he wrote a pamphlet, 

 formerly well known, entitled ' The Radical Cause of the Present 

 Distress of the West Indian Planters pointed out, and the 

 Inefficacy of the Measures which have been hitherto Proposed 

 for Relieving them Demonstrated.' This was followed by 

 ' Britain Independent of Commerce,' a work which established 

 his reputation as a political economist, and other similar pro- ' 

 ductions. To naturalists Spence will be for ever known for the 

 remarkable production, ' An Introduction to Entomology ; or. 

 Elements of the Natural History of Insects,' published in four, 

 volumes between 1815 and 1826.! This was in conjunction 

 with the Rev. William Kirby. The fourth volume contains an 



* Born at Bishop Burton, near Beverley. 



t The delay in publishing- the volumes was on account of Spence's 

 ill-health, which also necessitated his leaving Hull for the South of England 

 about 1819. ' 



Naturalist. 



