302 Scientific Reviews. 
cheap Miscellany. The remainder is occupied i the same train 
of adventures which falls to the lot of all navigators of the South Sea 
Islands. ‘‘ Friendly reception by the savages.” ‘‘ Intercourse with 
the natives.” ‘‘ Mutiny on board.” “ Best mode of conciliating. 
the savages.” “ Visited by chiefs of rank.” ‘‘ Temporary wives.” 
“ Cannibalism,” &c. &c. The profession of Captain Dillon be- 
speaks indulgence on the score of literary acquirements, though 
even in that point of view we have little to find fault with in the 
work, and the energy with which he conducted himself in the en- 
terprize, the ftieaiiies with which he had to battle, render the 
progress of his expedition a source of pride and interest, and the 
success which has attended his efforts, have fully entitled him to 
those rewards and to that credit which he has cbtained from Euro- 
pean courts, and the suffrage which will be unanimously given te 
him by a British public. 
On the present State of Science in Great Britain. 
No. Il. Wernerian Natural History Society. 
“¢ That which the despotical master has sown, cannot quicken unless it die.”” 
FERGUSON. _ 
Noruine contributes to excite and sustain a love for natural 
science more than the institution of Secieties. The associations 
ef the learned for the purposes of teaching, and the Societies of 
students (using the term in its extended sense) for the means of 
communication, are alike instances of the advantages which result 
from the combined labours of men. But the high value of scien- 
tific communication has been so distinctly shown by the experience 
ef all countries, that it would be an idle waste of time to prove it. 
Our thoughts have been naturally turned towards subjects of this 
kind, since the exposure of the non-utility of the Edinburgh Museum 
has created so much excitement in the public mind. It will be re- 
collected that it was mentioned incidentally, in a letter published 
in the Edinburgh Evening Courant, that some ef the property of 
the Wernerian Society formed a part of the College Collection. 
- We were greatly tempted, in our last Number, to make some ob- 
servations upon this circumstance ; but being reluctant to do any 
thing hastily or unadvisedly, we instituted some inquiries, and can 
now threw tegether what we have to say with more confidence. 
The Wenn eeen Natural History Seciety received its name in 
honour of the celebrated Werner, and was established, as our read- 
ers probably know, by Da eae Jameson. It enjoys 2 consider- 
able degree of reputation, derived partly from the number of emi- 
nent men belonging to it, partly from the celebrity of its founder ; 
for we freely accord to Protcccar Jameson that fame which he ree 
well earned by his scientific writings. We find, from the appen-. 
