50 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
tiful building which has been of such benefit to the Borough
ever since.
Then again, my memory of the Field Club goes back to the
time when I was first introduced to it by Professor Meldola—
one of the greatest friends I had—who initiated me into all sorts
of interesting work in connection with the Club.
My next memory is that of a very happy day spent by the
Field Club with us at Easton. On that occasion we had a most
interesting discussion. Mr. David Howard, who was in charge
of the party that day, initiated a discussion which has resulted
in the collection of beautiful pictures we see around the walls
of this Hall to-day. He complained very much that sufficient
records had not been kept to make the labours of the Field
Club easier, and his plea was that a pictorial survey of the whole
county was the thing to be initiated. Following on that dis-
cussion a survey of Essex in pictures was started by the Club.
The idea was given by Mr. Albert Briscoe, who was the Principal
of the Technical Institute here at that time. It caught on,
and has been followed up, with the result we see to-day on the
walls of this building.
I think that the side of the Field Club that appeals to me
most is that of Natural History, and being with you on the
occasion of your Fiftieth Anniversary to-day, I am wondering
how many of you are looking forward to the centenary of the
Field Club. It may be that there is not going to be a centenary,
because there may be no fields and no woods, and no beautiful
scenery to explore—only unsightly petrol pumps! Unless
something is done to put a stop to the spoliation of the country-
side our county will be devoid of all the beauty spots that we
older ones have known and loved.
I was pleased to see that last night in the House of Commons,
irrespective of party, some clear indication was given of a desire
to put a stop to the desecration of the countryside. But I do
not think much of pious resolutions in the House of Commons,
unless all of us who love Nature—the woods and the trees, and
country rambles—are prepared to make a stand against what
is going on at the present time. Personally, I fear that the
resolution has come too late for many places round about us
in the county of Essex. I speak with deep feeling on this ques-
tion, for the rambles of the Field Club have been among the