Anniversary Address. 63 



present on this occasion were as follows: The Rev. John 

 Baird, Rev. J. D. Clark, D. Macbeath, William Dickson, 

 Rev. W. Lamb, P. Clay, W. J. Watson, W. Stevenson, 

 Dr. C. Stuart, Rev. Thomas Leishman, P. T. Dickson, 

 and the President. The Rev. Nicholas Darnell of Edgbaston, 

 and the Rev. Mr. Walker, of Greenlaw, favoured the Club 

 with their company as visitors. After dinner the following 

 members were proposed, the Rev. Mr. Walker, of Greenlaw, 

 the Rev. Robert Kirwood, of Bamburgh, and Mr. John 

 Crooke, of South Sunderland. The plants observed during 

 the walk were, Triglochin palustre, Arbutus uva-ursi, and 

 Pinguicula vulgaris. A motion, submitted to the meeting 

 by the President, to the effect that a sum not exceedmg 

 twenty shillings should be devoted from the funds of the 

 society towards the expenses of each meeting held during the 

 year, met with general approval. 



Gentlemen, — I have now passed in review, and as con- 

 cisely as the subject matter would admit, our annual calendar 

 of operations. If we have not added much to the contributions 

 of science in general, we have at least made some individual 

 acquisitions of knowledge sufficient to repay^ us amply for the 

 time we have devoted to such pursuits. Few indeed of us, 

 with avocations of various kinds, demanding all our energy 

 and care, are able to bestow the attention we would wish on 

 so engrossing a study as the works of nature. But if the 

 highest flights of philosophy and science shrink jnto nothing 

 when we bruig them into competition with the wisdom of Him 



" the kingly sage, whose restless mind 



Through nature's mazes wandered unconfin'd ; 

 Who every bird, and beast, and insect knew, 

 And spake of every plant that quaffs the dew :" 



we may well be content to follow at a humble distance in 

 our sphere of labour, accumulating knowledge gradually, 

 sporting, as it were, with philosophy, and dimly realizing the 

 extent and variety of its treasures. And now, in bringing 

 these remarks to a close, I must not omit to notice the genial 

 weather with which we have been favoured by a bountiful 



