Academy of Natural Science. 1 1 



Let us take the state of our knowledge on any one sub- 

 ject that should come within the scope of natural history, 

 and we shall find how much the interests of the country, 

 both as regards its intellectual and social improvement, 

 depends upon its investigation : as, for instance, our coal 

 fields, our tea plants, and our fisheries. In all these matters 

 we have every thing to accomplish, and although from their 

 importance, private enterprise and the isolated observations 

 of individuals may in time effect much, still in a country where 

 the mind requires to be as yet formed for all such inquiries, 

 both energy and example are requisite for conducting re- 

 searches successfully to practical results. 



There are no instances of men stumbling at once on great 

 practical results in any thing, nor are there any instances 

 of nations changing their character suddenly from intel- 

 lectual darkness to wisdom ; these things are not the results 

 of chance, or of sudden efforts, however they may be sup- 

 ported by wealth ; but of sedulous and well directed exertion 

 of individuals and the force of their example on communities. 



Seeing therefore how much depends on the exertion of 

 naturalists and the progress of their pursuits in India, it is 

 reasonable to expect that something should be done to con- 

 centrate and give energy to their labours ; but this is less a 

 subject for the consideration of others than for that of 

 naturalists themselves. 



It is one of the peculiarities of men engaged in the pro- 

 secution of original inquiry, that they are contented to go on 

 in silence with their pursuits, heedless of every thing but the 

 subject before them. 



There are however occasions when it becomes necessary 

 to look around, and see if with very little inconvenience we 

 may not materially improve, not only our own facilities, but 

 the facilities of those who are to follow in our pursuits ; and 

 it is a duty which we owe no less to the government than to 

 ourselves, to secure for those pursuits to which we devote a 

 large proportion of our time, such facilities as may be com- 



