Manchester Natural- History Society. 2787 



bv successive visits, but in some instances by presents of objects which have fallen in 

 their wav, and to which their attention has been directed by what is here presented- 

 that opportunity only is wanted to acquire new tastes, and with these new and un- 

 proved habits. And without mentioning, in a more particular manner, the well-known 

 fact, that this district can boast of accomplished botanists even amongst those who 

 are occupied in toilsome employments and furnished but with slender means, it can be 



Id further, that, in the various branches of Natural History, we can instance many 

 well-informed and scientific observers and students, ,n this town and »«£*»*"*• 

 And these are seennotonly amongst the more educated.but even amongst those whose 

 avocations have permitted such studies, only in the brief intervals of daily and of m - 

 nuatbou, There is perhaps no provincial institution which exists so many object, 

 calculated to interest the attention and to occupy the memory, and so capable of lead 



ng human beings to high and worthy aspirations. They not only indeed gratOy the 

 eye and present an enduring fund of innocent amusement, but offer inexhaustible r- 



ouices of valuable instruction. They tend to increase the mental cultivation and to 

 huTanis the manners and ideas, whilst, at the same time, they cannot fin to increase 

 anHonfirm a reverence for the infinite wisdom, and power, and benevolence of the 



^ Yet, although so much has been already accomplished by the opportunities thus 

 afforded, there still remains a boundless field of investigation, ever open and ever in- 

 creasing to the extending range of vision and of thought. 



"Without, however, entering further into those higher considerations which so na- 

 turalising from such a subject, it is sufficient to say that this institu ion admits of, 

 Tnd now rZres, a considerable extension, for the mere purpose only of receiving the 

 We number of valuable specimens constantly presented from all parts of the world 

 The e w"l ill further increase i,s utility and attraction ; but at present the council 

 Lve to itet that many rare and beautiful specimens, especially in ornithology, now 

 in its possession, cannot be arranged and displayed for want of room 



"Under he e circumstances, the enlargement of the building has become ab- 

 solute^v 1 essary • but the council, unwilling to lessen the respectability and usefifl- 

 solutely necessary , umi » confidently relv upon the assistance of the 



"'^conclusion, the council h«.e great pleasure in acknowledging the continued 

 ki „d„,r»t out excellent patron, the Right Hon.uraole the E.,1 of Derby and 

 S liberal donations of so man, gentlemen to „hose kind cons.der.t.on the Soc t, 

 SI 'much indebted. These *^^^^£££SZ 



many of them very rare. Edward Charles Buxton, Esq., has presented 410 ciag fossils, 

 Td Da^d Sanna't Price, Esq., of Batavia, has given numerous articles from Java. 



