PREFACE. 



The Committee of the Natural History Society of Newcastle conceive, 

 that it might be necessary to prefix, to the first Volume of its Transac- 

 tions, a short account of the origin and progress of the Institution, and 

 some cursory remarks on the objects which it embraces. 



It will naturally occur to many, into whose hands this volume may 

 come, to enquire, why, when the Literary and Philosophical Society had 

 subsisted during so many years, with a view to the promotion of Gene- 

 ral Science, there should be any reason for the formation of distinct 

 establishments. 



This, however, has been found to be the case elsewhere ; that as the 

 boundaries of Natural Science have been gradually extended, separate 

 institutions have arisen for the more convenient investigation of particu- 

 lar branches. Thus, out of the Royal Society of London, have gradu- 

 ally arisen, the Antiquarian, Linn^an, Geological, Astronomical, 

 Horticultural, and Zoological Societies. 



