304 Anniversary Address. 



to prove tliat the Investigation of the natural history of our 

 district is still far from exhausted and affords ahundant scope 

 for young and ardent seekers after knowledge. Our ever to 

 be lamented Founder, " the life and soul of the club," in one 

 of his most genial addresses considers it of little moment 

 whether we ever add a single item to the account ot science. 

 Such principles, however, were far removed from his practice ; 

 yet should we be unsuccessful in obtaining new objects to re- 

 ward our search, an abundant field is still in store for the 

 student of nature in remarking the habits and metamorphoses 

 of plants and animals previously known. The beauties of 

 natural scenery too never pall; whether on the "brown heath 

 or shaggy wood, whether on the mountain or the flood," or 

 on the more peaceful scenes of rural labour, there is a never 

 failing variety of cloud and sunshine, of light and shade, of 

 new and passing objects, which cannot fail to charm the eye 

 and improve the heart. 



In the address which I had the honour to deliver to the 

 club twenty-six years ago, I regretted that as a branch of 

 liberal education natural histoiy should not be more taught 

 in our public schools; happily this opprobrium no longer 

 exists. This important matter has engaged the attention of 

 the British Association for the advancement of science, and 

 has been deemed worthy of the consideration of a Parliamen- 

 tary Committee, which reports " that the attention of the 

 public appears to have been awakened to the necessity for 

 introducing scientific teaching into our schools, if we are not 

 willing to sink into a condition of inferiority as regards both 

 intellectual culture and skill in art, when compared with 

 Foreign Nations." Already the good fruits of this discussion 

 are beginning to be apparent, both at Harrow and Rugby ; the 

 masters have voluntarily added instruction in natural science 

 to the ordinary classical course, and so far do the boys them- 

 selves appreciate this instruction that at Harrow some of 

 them have formed themselves into a voluntary club for the 

 pursuit and cultivation of science. The president of the Sec- 

 tion of Economic Science at the late meeting of the British 



