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CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 3o 
ference the Chairman’s addréss would be printed in full. And Mr. 
Hotblack suggested that proof copies should be supplied to the delegates, 
so that they might bring the subject before their Societies at an early 
date. Both propositions received the unanimous support of the meeting. 
Second Meeting of the Conference, September 19. 
The Corresponding Societies Committee were represented by Rev. T. 
Rt. R. Stebbing (Chairman), Dr. Garson, Mr. G. J. Symons, Professor W. 
W. Watts, and Mr. T. V. Holmes (Secretary). 
The Chairman opened the proceedings by reading the following letter, 
which he had received since their last meeting : 
Reception Room, British Association: September 18, 1899. 
Sir,—A feeling by quite a number of those interested in the work of 
Delegates at our British Association Meetings, exists, that the interchange 
of ideas regarding the organisation and development of the Local Societies 
is not offered an opportunity of being discussed at the Conference of 
Delegates at yearly meetings of the British Association. i should feel 
much obliged if, as Chairman of our Conference, you could set aside a few 
minutes for a discussion on ‘the working by sections of large scientific 
Societies, whether in Exact or Natural History Science’ at our meeting 
on Tuesday the 19th inst. 
I am, yours faithfully, 
(Signed) G. P. Hughes, F.R.G.S., 
Representing the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club. 
A long and desultory debate then followed, in which many delegates 
present took part, as to the best ways of making the meetings of the 
Conference more useful than they now are. While it was proceeding 
Mr. Stebbing was obliged to leave, and Professor W. W. Watts became 
Chairman. At length it was decided that the best course would be for 
individual delegates to send their views to the Corresponding Societies 
Committee not later than the first week in November. Letters received 
by that date would be considered by the Committee when they met later 
in that month. And, as some delegates were not present, it was thought 
desirable that the Secretary should write, stating that this discussion had 
taken place, and that any recommendations from delegates must be sent 
in by the date mentioned. 
Mr. Hugh Blakiston, the Secretary of the ‘ National Trust for Places 
of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty,’ then read a paper on the aims 
and work of the Trust. 
Mr. Blakiston remarked that the National Trust was founded in the 
year 1894 by the Duke of Westminster, the Earl of Carlisle, Lord 
Hobhouse, the Right Hon. James Bryce, Sir Robert Hunter, Miss 
Octavia Hill and others, and was incorporated as a Limited Liability 
Company ‘to promote the permanent preservation, for the benefit of the 
nation, of lands and tenements (including buildings) of beauty or historic 
interest ; and as regards lands, to preserve (so far as practicable) their 
natural aspect, features, and animal and plant life ; and for this purpose 
to accept, from private owners of property, gifts of places of interest or 
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