194 THROUGH NORWAY WITH THE VESEY CLUB. 
Sep., 1890. 
meet periodically for their mutual improvement by the con¬ 
sideration of some special topic. Through force of circum¬ 
stances, the Club has more marked tendencies in the 
geological and botanical directions than in any others, but 
this is of the nature of a perhaps temporary accident. Thus 
far the Vesey Club differs in no way from the many literary 
and scientific societies scattered over the country. Two 
characteristic features, however, are its social tendencies, and 
the desire of its members to be on terms of personal friendship 
with one another. To promote these the membership is 
limited. The head-quarters of the Club are at Sutton 
Coldfield, the name being taken from the Bishop Vesey who 
was sucli a splendid benefactor to that Royal borough. The 
originator, life, and soul of the Club is Mr. J. B. Stone, 
F.L.S., F.G.S., Mayor of Sutton Coldfield since prehistoric 
times, who himself exemplifies in the happiest manner the 
associated characteristics of the Club. An earnest scientific 
student, with decided literary and artistic tastes, Mr. Stone is 
nevertheless most in his element in exercising the genial 
duties of host. An active politician, his politics have never 
been allowed to interfere with his friendships, and, indeed, but 
for current reports and newspaper evidence, one might 
associate with him for years without learning the nature of 
his political proclivities. What the founder and senior vice- 
president of the Vesey Club can do would take pages of the 
“ Midland Naturalist” to state. What he cannot do I must 
still, after a long and careful study of him, leave to the future 
to find out. The President of the Club is, for the current year, 
Sir Robert Ball, the well-known and genial Astronomer Royal 
for Ireland. Previous Presidents have been Archibald Geikie, 
Director of the Ordnance Survey, and W. Carruthers, head of 
the Botanical Department of the British Museum, and Presi¬ 
dent of the Linnean Society. As each President reigns for a 
year the age of the Vesey Club is readily told. 
The excursion to Norway was the outcome of a scientific 
discussion at one of the meetings of the Club, and the super¬ 
fluous energy of the senior vice-president found a temporary 
vent in organising it. How perfect the organisation was only 
those who took part in the excursion can form any idea, and 
even they hardly an adequate one. The primary division of 
the party was into two, those who wished to spend four weeks, 
and were anxious to make a more careful examination of the 
best marked geological and botanical features of the inland 
districts, and those who could give only two and a half weeks, 
and were, on the whole, more drawn by scenic attractions. 
The former party left Birmingham on Friday, June 27, and 
