PRESENTATION TO MR. WILLIAM COLE. 129
in similar directions by Mr. Cole and his brothers and sisters, I feel in the diffi-
culty which was wickedly expressed in the old Latin proverb—Pereant male qui
ante nos nostra dixissent. I heartily echo all that has been said on the subject.
Epping Forest is a very old memory of mine. My earliest ideas of any-
thing scientific—it is long over fifty years ago—were connected with my
being taught botany by my father in Epping Forest. I think I can now show the
exact place where I first found sundew, I cannot find it there now, because,
unfortunately, that particular pond is dried up. But that is one of my earliest
remembrances, and it has given me a very strong belief in the value of natural
history to the young in eliciting their sense of wonder and enquiry.
In conclusion, I wish to express my entire concurrence with this most
important movement and the extreme pleasure it has given me to have any part
in it (Applause).
Mr. T. Vincent Holmes, F.G.S., said: I have noticed that some local
scientific societies which, for a time, did very good work have lasted only
sixteen or eighteen years. They lasted only so long as their originators were
working in full vigour with them ; but, when they disappeared, their places were
not taken by others having the same interest in the society, and the society
gradually vanished. We are doubly fortunate in that Mr. Cole and his brothers
and sisters, who have served us from the beginning, are still with us at the end
of a quarter-of-a-century of existence. I trust we may continue to have their
services for another quarter of a century.
Professor Boulger said : Unlike some of those who have addressed you, my
acquaintance with the forest began simultaneously with my acquaintance with
Mr. Cole. It so happened that, when I was most associated with the work of
the Field Club, we had a somewhat stormy period, during which Mr. Cole and I
fought side by side in a very sharp contest which followed the rescue of Epping
Forest.
I am glad this is not a meeting of the Club, but that it is a special gathering
for the personal congratulation of Mr. Cole and his brothers and sisters. A great
many of us first made our acquaintance with Mr. Cole through the Club, and
that acquaintance has ripened into friendship. One may have official relations
with many men in connection with many societies, but they do not necessarily
result in personal friendship. With Mr. Cole, however, I think all those who
have been actively associated with him in the work of the Club have come to
look upon him as a personal friend. We all congratulate him upon the result of
his long work, and we hope that that work may long continue (Applause).
Mr. P. Gellatly, J.P., Verderer of Epping Forest, said: I come here
to-night simply as a neighbour of our good friend and not to represent anybody;
but, having been called upon unexpectedly to say something as a Verderer of
Epping Forest, I should like to associate Mr. Cole with our work.
Since Epping Forest was dedicated by the Queen for the benefit of the people,
the Epping Forest Committee (of whom the Verderers form a part) have taken
the deepest interest in carrying out the duties devolving upon them and have
improved the glorious open space committed to their charge.
When they had made the important restorations to Queen's Elizabeth Lodge,
which they were bound to preserve as an historic building, and had restored it to
something like its ancient character, Mr. Cole saw his opportunity of utilizing
the spacious rooms as a Natural History Museum especially connected with the