THE PAST AND FUTURE OF THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 81
has been said to show how needful it is that we should do our utmost
to preserve, record the positions of, and where necessary explore, those
of Essex; and to make it obvious that in this department alone our
Field Club has before it a work of no ordinary magnitude and
importance.
We have thus seen that in Essex we have as a field of action an
interesting county, of which in some respects very little is known. We
have also the advantage that it contains no rival societies to attract
either members or papers on local topics, an advantage wanting in
the neighbouring county of Kent, and, indeed, in most parts of
England. For while there can be no harm, but the reverse, in the
establishment of small local scientific societies printing nothing beyond
a brief annual report of their proceedings, the existence of small local
societies printing local and original papers is, on the whole, a mis-
fortune. For only a society having a large number of members can
print in full and adequately illustrate the papers read before it, print-
ing being, as we have learned, a very costly part of our Club's
expenditure. Besides it is most advantageous in every way that the
inquirer from elsewhere seeking information should know that he has
but the Transactions of a single society to search through, and should
not be in doubt whether what he seeks will be found in the Report
of an Epping Forest Society, or of one with head-quarters at Romford
or Brentwood, Chelmsford, Braintree or Colchester. Indeed, in
counties with many small local associations, the only satisfactory
arrangement, as regards printing, is the selection of the best papers
read before the local societies by a central body, composed of dele-
gates from each society, as is done by the Cumberland and West-
moreland Association. Even then, local jealousy is apt to cause
discontent, and ultimately secession. Being, therefore, happily free
from the difficulties that would attend the attempt to establish a really
county field club almost anywhere else; having a most gratifying
record of past work to look back upon ; being now relieved from the
financial difficulties which lately threatened the maintenance of the
position we had attained, if not our existence, I think we may now
confidently look forward to a future of increasing usefulness, and of
yet higher reputation.
In conclusion, I beg leave to tender you my hearty thanks for the
honour you conferred upon me two years ago in electing me
President, and to express the great pleasure I feel in being able to
congratulate the Essex Field Club, not only on a highly creditable
E 3