3556 Notices of New Books : 



tion of an object he had so long and so ardently desired. The follow- 

 ing record of the proceedings is deeply and touchingly interesting: — 



"The Bishop of Norwich* took the chair upon the occasion, and 

 Mr. Kirby, the venerable President, occupied a seat upon his right 

 hand : he evinced great interest in the opening address, as well as in 

 the report of the Secretary ; an expression of delight was manifested 

 when that part of the report was read which announced that ' the in- 

 stitution was believed to be the first established in Britain, for the 

 especial purpose of promoting the study of Natural History among the 

 working classes : ' indeed, throughout the whole of the proceedings, 

 whenever allusion was made to this subject, he signified by a subdued 

 expression of applause his cordial approbation. 



" None who were present on the occasion can ever forget his rising 

 to second one of the resolutions; a task assigned to him, that he might 

 not feel it incumbent upon him to address the meeting : so heartily, 

 however, did he enter into the whole scheme, and so anxious was he 

 to give vent to his feelings in the same strain which he had in his 

 writings ever adopted, that he made the attempt, and said, — ' These 

 cases that you see before you are filled with the works of God, — He 

 made them all, — He is great, — He is wise, — He is good.' The effort 

 proved too severe, — the mind had been strained to the highest pitch, 

 — his whole conception had been embodied in these few short senten- 

 ces, and no power remained to descend to any matter subordinate to 

 the great truth to which he desired to give utterance. Mr. Kirby could 

 proceed no farther, and at the suggestion of a friend resumed his seat. 

 After a momentary and affecting pause, the worthy Bishop, with that 

 promptness which was so peculiarly characteristic, rose and said, — 

 * This resolution has been proposed, and seconded with more than 

 words by the Reverend and excellent Mr. Kirby ; his silence gives a 

 double force to the seconding the resolution, and I trust the few words 

 he did speak, pregnant with good feeling, pregnant with devotion, 

 overflowing with religion, will never be forgotten by those who heard 

 them.' 



" At a later period of the proceedings, the Bishop of Norwich, in 

 terms of eulogy, proposed a vote of thanks to their venerable President 

 for his attendance ; when he turned to Mr. Kirby, and addressed him 

 personally. The latter, with unaffected grace, rose and stood in a 

 posture of humility and respect, while he listened to the words of en- 

 thusiastic praise, and received the most hearty good wishes for his 



* Dr. Slanlcv. 



