266
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
topography and natural productions of the Essex coast, and it was greatly to be
regretted that so much of his rich stores of information had died with him,
Mr. Champion Russell, in seconding, thanked Prof. Meldola for the clearness
with which he had explained the chief points of Col. Russell's photographic
work, and for his kind allusions thereto. He had brought up for exhibition a
few specimens of his father's early photographs, but unfortunately he was unable
to add much to the particulars already before the meeting. At the time that his
father was engaged in these investigations he (the speaker) was quite a small
boy. His father never did much camera work ; the photographs he made were
intended more for the purpose of demonstrating the capabilities of his discoveries
as practical processes, than as specimens of artistic merit; he often said that
photography would be delightful were it not for its pictures ! His father gained
two medals for his discoveries in photography—a gold one at the Paris Exhibition,
and a bronze one at Dublin ; but so much jealousy and bad feeling appears to
have been shown with respect to these discoveries, that his father resolved, should
he obtain further results, to refrain from publishing them, and hence his photo-
graphic ardour cooled, and he turned his attention to other subjects.
Mr. C. Ridley alluded to the immense utility of photography in modern
scientific investigations—for instance, in solar and stellar observations. The
latter often required hours and hours of exposure of the plate in the camera
before the faint images of distant stars could be caught. Such exposures would
have been utterly out of the question with the old processes, and hence he
thought they ought to be proud of Col. Russell's discoveries, as most important
contributions of an "Essex Worthy" towards the scientific work of the world.
Prof. Meldola, in acknowledging the hearty vote of thanks, entered into details
as to the employment of photography in physical and astronomical observations,
and said that the beautiful processes of photography bid fair to be among the
most delicate and useful weapons which modern science had placed in the hands
of the investigator.
Prof. Meldola (as the Club's delegate at the Association) then gave a viva voce
report of the Proceedings of the Conference of Delegates at the Bath Meeting
of the British Association. He entered into details of the subjects brought before
the Conference, as being suitable fields of work for local societies to undertake,
and referred to some of the suggestions made as to how such work could be best
carried out. These matters will probably form the subject of a separate article
in the Essex Naturalist.
A discussion on several points of detail was carried on by the President,
Mr. White, Mr. C. Russell, Mr Greatheed, Mr. Holmes, and others, and a vote
of thanks was passed to Prof. Meldola for his report and for his services as
Delegate of the Club at the British Association.
It had been thought that the meeting would afford a good opportunity for an
exhibition of photographs by various processes, taken by members and others;
particularly of Essex scenery, buildings, etc. In response to the Secretary's
invitation, the following were exhibited :—Mr. Champion Russell, specimens of
the late Col. Russell's early photographs, showing the first results of his dry-plate
processes. Mr. E. A. Fitch, "Epping Forest and adjacent country illustrated,"
a volume containing 42 large photographs, with descriptive letter-press; also an
album containing 52 photographic views of Maldon, and many illustrative of the
recent floods in Essex, etc. Mr. Greathead, a large number of views in Essex,
taken by himself, including some taken at Field Meetings of the Club.
Mr. 0. Osborne, a collection of his own photographic work in Essex; views