president's address. 99 



ADDRESS TO THE MEMBERS OE THE TYNESIDE 

 NATURALISTS' EIELD CLUB, 



READ BY THE PRESIDENT, REV. J. E. LEEFE, M.A., AT THE TWENTY- 

 EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY MEETING, HELD IN THE MUSEUM OF THE 

 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ON WEDNES- 

 DAY, APRIL 29th, 1874. 



Gentlemen, — I am sure it may well seem presumptuous in me 

 to occupy the chair of a Society which numbers amongst its 

 members so many persons of distinguished scientific attainments. 

 But when the very flattering proposition of the Committee was 

 made to me a second time, I felt that I could not do otherwise 

 than accede to their wishes ; and I am not sorry, as a clergyman, 

 to have this opportunity of bearing public testimony to the value 

 which I think attaches to such institutions as the " Tyneside 

 Naturalists' Eield Club." 



It is true that the excursions of the Club may, at times, ap- 

 pear to partake a good deal of a pic-nic character ; but the pub- 

 lished Transactions, which will bear comparison with those of 

 any similar society, prove that there is a deeper current of re- 

 search running strongly below the surface, and that the scientific 

 character of the Club is well maintained. But even those who 

 attend the excursions of the Society mainly for a day's pleasure, 

 may easily bring home with them emotions of a nobler kind, 

 which will influence them profitably for many days. To those 

 who live in crowded cities it must be always a source of inex- 

 pressible delight to be brought face to face with the beautiful 

 scenes our "north countrie" presents in such abundance. And 

 when it is remembered that the places selected are always cho- 

 sen, because they are known to combine the greatest number of 

 interesting objects, lying within a convenient distance, it is ob- 

 vious that the Club affords advantages to those who love nature 

 which it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for individual 

 members to provide for themselves. But I think we should not, 

 in summing up the beneficial results of the Field Club, confine 

 ourselves to mere considerations of variety and amusement. AVe 

 may take higher ground and persuade ourselves, that in the 



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