230 Reports and Proceedings. 
that on my asking for a hundred pounds to start with, many of my 
neighbours thought the sum so large that our success was quite 
hopeless. I must admit having had some fears myself on the sub- 
ject; but they are now happily dissipated, and I feel and know that 
we are on the eve of forming a truly beneficial Society. Almost 
without an effort or solicitation, we have about half the number of 
the twenty £5 patrons; and at the head of that list stand the names 
of that distinguished noble family, whose liberality and patronage 
for everything good in this district is never asked in vain. We 
fully hope for the co-operation of the other leading families, to 
stimulate us to success in the future. Upwards of eighty Annual 
Subscribers are already booked; and it is fair to expect we can 
double that number. We ought indeed to be proud and thankful 
for such real and gratifying liberality. Our only remaining diffi- 
culty now appears to be the want of rooms; and I think this 
Meeting will agree with me, that it will be desirable to enquire 
about and advertise for such. We ought to have one large room 
(if with sky-lights, so much the better), and a smaller one for 
packing and unpacking. ‘These rooms ought not to be detached, 
but ought to form part of an establishment, where a resident House- 
keeper would be ready to keep at proper and stated times. We will 
expect the occupation to be temporary, as I am hopeful to see agp 
appropriate building for the purpose in some of the beautiful 
situations around us. As soon as our room gets its contents, our 
path appears to be easy. Few districts are so rich in objects of 
scientific interest as our own, and it will be our duty, and, I trust, it 
will likewise be our work, to induce many of our good sons and fair 
daughters to study God’s handiwork in that patient, humble, loving, 
and reverent spirit which alone can read its teaching truly and 
wisely. Our primary object must be to instruct, not to amuse. Our 
Summer Field-meetings will doubtless prove objects of real in- 
struction and enjoyment: with such guides as Mr.Ward for Botany; 
as Mr. L. Bradley for Mineralogy ; and I may venture to add, as 
your President for Geology and Ornithology, these gatherings must 
be of a most enjoyable nature. I have already made some pro- 
visional arrangements for a grand day’s trip to one of the Durham 
Coal-mines, where it will be my duty to point out the nature and 
formation of Coal, and to exhibit, perhaps down the pit, the wonders 
of its workings, and of the large and busy hive of its industry. Mr. 
Bradley will give a similar trip to one of his Lead-mines in Swale- 
dale; and Mr. Ward will arrange for a botanical field-day in the 
classic district around the Round Howe. We likewise hope for 
many short evening-excursions around our town during the long 
days, starting at seven, returning at ten. As long as I am president, 
I pledge myself to do everything in my power to keep the whole 
arrangements of our Club to the six working days of the week. It 
is possible some one may say, on looking over our cabinets of objects 
of Natural History, “ What a destruction of life!” Now really this 
will not be the case. I do not believe that a really good naturalist 
can be a bad man,—the true lover of nature admires all created 
things; he knows how wonderfully they are made, and he shrinks 
