IG 
to have an understanding that we are to be scientific, hut not des- 
tructive. For if the society is to go in a body to hunt for rare 
plants, existing only in special localities, and each one claim to take 
a specimen, it will become a pest to all true lovers of science, and 
a dread to all sensible occupiers of land. 
There is another thing strikes me, from the experience I have 
had of other Societies, namely, that we should assert the rights of 
the poor, and our own rights therewith, in keeping open footpaths. 
I have seen a great tendency to make bridle-paths into footpaths, 
and footpaths into no paths at all. 
No one likes to go to battle with the authorities and the powers 
that be, but a Society can send a lawyer’s letter, and I know of a 
Society which was the means of keeping open many footpaths, and 
was of great public service in this Avay. We ought to take care 
that Ave do not let public rights be trespassed upon, and our Avalks 
shut up from us by the selfislmess of the po Avers that may happen 
for the time being to be OAvners of the land. 
I remember, in the first volume of John Stuart IMiH’s book on 
political economy, that cold, logical book, the necessity of commons 
and Avaste places is insisted upon. One Avould liaA^e thought this 
would have been one of the last things to be found in such a book, 
but it so happens that John Mill is a botanist, and, therefore, you 
can comprehend Avhy he Avishes to keep the commons and Avastc 
places intact. He finds a reason for it in political economy, but I 
suspect the botany was father to the Avdsh. He loves his political 
economy, but he loves his botany quite as much. 
Every region has peculiarities in its flora, which, I susiAect, might 
teach us something of the ancient geology and geography of the 
country; and although Ave cannot, like the Eugby, Dudley, and 
ShreAvsbury Societies, go to the top of the Wrekin to see the 
plants there which seem to be looking Avistfully to their relatives 
far away on the hills of Wales, or the more distant Scotch hills, 
yet there may be mosses and plants about our marshes and ditches 
Avhich might teach us something of the history of far-gone-by 
times, and lead us to distant countries as Avell as distant ages. 
Then our conchologists have to AAmrk out their vein of investigation, 
and in holiday times, could Ave not get into connection Avith the 
dredgers on our shores, or even establish a little dredging ourselves 1 
ISlany an important topic, both of marine botany and marine 
