48
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
To her ladyship, the Countess of Warwick, who opened our
Museum, and re-opened this building after the fire, we are deeply
indebted for her presence here this afternoon. I remember her
ladyship's interesting address at the re-opening of this building,
and the wise remarks she addressed to us then. I do not think
her words were wasted. I remember them, and I am quite
sure that all who were present have remembered them in the
years which have passed since then.
To the Lord Lieutenant of the County, to the Mayors of the
various towns who are here this afternoon, and to the other
dignitaries of the county who have honoured us with their pre-
sence, we gratefully tender our thanks for their support.
Although our headquarters are anchored by our agreement to
the south-west of Essex, West Ham is still a County Borough,
and we have always made it a point that we take the whole of
the county for our province. We have proved that by the way
we have gone about the county. It is not possible to travel
about nowadays in quite the same way as we used to do, from
the point of view of expense; but now that facilities for trav-
elling are improving, the Club in the future hopes to go into
every nook and corner of Essex, as it did in the days gone by.
On various occasions we have made more formal visits to
certain towns, among others, to Saffron Walden, Chelmsford
and Colchester.
To the Verderers of Epping Forest, and the representatives
of the Committee who are present with us this afternoon we offer
a hearty welcome. Epping Forest—that magnificent national
park—has always been to us a special object of interest, in fact,
at the beginning this Club was named "The Epping Forest
and County of Essex Naturalists' Field Club." As proof of the
intimate relations which have always existed between the Essex
Field Club and the Corporation of the City of London I may
mention that the Club has organised and curates a Museum at
Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, in Epping Forest, where there is a
collection of objects illustrating the natural history of the Forest.
There is yet another group of persons whom we welcome
to-day, and thank for their support. I refer to the many
distinguished men and women of science who are present—many
of them old friends of the Essex Field Club. They are con-
versant with the work done by the Club, and I think we may take