THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S 
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
No. 83.] SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1858. [Price \d. 
EAST KENT NATURAL HISTORY 
SOCIETY. 
The inaugural meeting of tliis Society 
took place on Thursday, April 8, in the 
Guildhall Concert Room, Canterbury, 
and was very numerously attended. “ So 
great was the interest excited by the 
new Society, that the large room was 
crowded, and many parties were unable 
to obtain admission. The auditory in- 
cluded many of the clergy and gentry 
of that division of the county, and the 
presence of a considerable number of 
ladies was a very gratifying feature of 
the meeting.” 
From the address, on this occasion, 
of our esteemed correspondent, Captain 
Cox, we quote the following para- 
graphs : — 
“ The aim of this Society is to in- 
crease the love of Natural History, 
and diffuse its ennobling tastes through 
channels hitherto closed, by prejudice, 
indifference and ignorance ; to collect 
and disseminate valuable information ; 
to appoint, throughout East Kent, local 
contributors, who will be requested to 
keep accurate notes of all points of 
interest bearing on the subject, and from 
time to time report them, as occasion 
may offer; to have stated meetings, at 
which papers will be read, and excur- 
sions carried out; and, finally, to unite 
in one Society all those admirers of 
the beauties of Creation whose kindred 
souls may there meet and become known 
to each other, for their mutual improve- 
ment. 
“ We will now enquire, first, into the 
advantages of the Society; and then, 
its objects. 
“ The love of Natural History has, 
within the last few years, taken such 
rapid strides that Societies are being 
constantly formed; and the present is 
only a type of what is being carried 
out in other counties. 
“ Formerly the lovers of Natural His- 
tory had many difficulties to contend 
with: their position was isolated, the 
postal communications imperfect and ex- 
pensive, and the literature on this sub- 
ject was very defective. Therefore, com- 
paratively unknown to each other, the 
labourers in this delightful study pur- 
sued their researches under circum- 
stances very different to those which the 
present extended state of knowledge 
presents to its votaries. Many kept 
diaries and notes, but, haring so little 
inducement to bring them before the 
public, doubtless valuable papers have 
been lost to Science; and many hearts, 
once ardent in the pursuit of some 
branch of Natural History, have carried 
to the grave their glowing enthusiasm, 
unheard of and unknown. 
“ But, when a Society is formed, it 
at once becomes the focus of individual 
enterprise. Members meet, friends join, 
F 
