JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS
AT
ORDINARY, FIELD, AND OTHER MEETINGS.
[In commencing our Journal of Proceedings it may be well to give a
brief statement of the origin of the Club. The first public proposal in
connection with the subject was made in a letter addressed to the Editor
of the Woodford Times by Mr. William Cole, which appeared in the
issue for Saturday, October 25th, 1879. This letter was followed by
others from Messrs. Harcourt, Lockyer, Argent and Cole addressed to
various local newspapers, all strongly urging the establishment of a
Naturalists' Club in Essex. A circular was issued by Mr. Cole, headed
"Epping Forest and South Essex Naturalists' Field Club," and freely
distributed, asking for the support of all South Essex naturalists and
archaeologists. Sufficient names having been received to warrant the
step, a private meeting was held at Buckhurst Hill on Saturday,
November 15th, 1879, to settle preliminaries. Mr. Cole was nominated
as Hon. Secretary pro tem., and was authorised to call a public meeting
for the establishment of the Society, and to make all necessary arrange-
ments. It was felt that it would be better to have a more comprehensive
title than that above quoted, and the one now held by the Club was
chosen. Mr. R. Meldola consented to become the first President, and
ultimately the inaugural meeting was called by advertisements in the
newspapers and the issue of a very large number of circulars, which were
sent to the leading inhabitants in all parts of the county. The Editor
places the circular letter on record here ; it may be interesting in the
future as expressing the views of the founders of the Club :—
Epping Forest and County of Essex Naturalists' Field Club.
Laurel Cottage, Buckhurst Hill, Essex.
Dear Sir,—I am requested to state that the inaugural meeting of this
Club will be held on Saturday evening, January 10th, 1880, at the rooms
of the Buckhurst Hill Art Classes, 3, St. John's Terrace (opposite the
church). The chair will be taken at seven o'clock by R. Meldola,
Esq., F.C.S., &c, Secretary to the Entomological Society of London.
The objects of the Club, as set forth in the proposed Rules, are as
follows:—"The investigation of the natural history, geology, and
archaeology of the County of Essex (special attention being given to
the fauna, flora, geology, and antiquities of Epping Forest) ; the
publication of the results of such investigations ; the formation of a
library of works of local interest and other publications, and the