46 
THE WERNERIAN SOCIETY. 
although unaided by the advantages of wealth, it has 
has silently pursued its useful career, and has, both 
directly and indirectly, contributed most essentially to 
the well-doing of science. Most of the active mem- 
bers of this society are professional men, whose daily 
engagements circumscribe the sphere of their scienti- 
fic utility; yet, notwithstanding this and other dis- 
advantages, they have explored a large portion of 
country — have contributed several valuable papers, 
which have been published, besides others of equal 
importance, which will, in due season, appear at the 
bar of the public. While the individual members 
are thus co-operating in their efforts, the society, as 
a body, has not been negligent of its more imme- 
diate duties. Six volumes of memoirs, containing 
several very valuable papers, have been already pub- 
lished ; and the merits of these volumes are suffi- 
ciently known to the scientific world ; and as ana- 
lyses of these volumes have been formerly given 
elsewhere, it is unnecessary for us to enter into such 
details. 
The course hitherto adopted by the Wernerian 
Society has been unquestionably good ; and upon 
the whole, we are disposed to think that a quiet un- 
obtrusive career, in which solid foundations, for fu- 
ture distinction and lasting reputation, are laid, is to 
be preferred to that rapid course which dazzles for 
a while, but leaves no fixed and permanent impres- 
sion. When, indeed, we recall the circumstances 
under which it was first established — when we re- 
