Journal of Proceedings. xxiii
Mr. Robarts and Mr. Fisher Unwin suggested that the Library should
be confined to works of scientific, local, or topographical interest. The
President fully agreed, and thought the Librarian should be authorised to
decline with thanks works which were not of scientific value; but that
the Club should accept all books of scientific interest, whether local
or not.
Mr. Walker referred to the beautiful drawings and preparations
contained in the late Mr. Andrew Murray's collections at the Bethnal
Green Museum, as being typical of what they would wish to see in their
own Museum.
Mr. Wall, F.G.S., said we had nothing in this country to vie with the
Museums of Melbourne and Sydney as educational Museums. At
Melbourne Prof, von Muller had arranged a collection which would bear
comparison with any Museum in the world for educational value. He
quoted his own experience during his travels as emphasising what had
been urged with regard to the great value of local Museums, and the
knowledge of, and taste for, various branches of Natural History which
they were likely to promote.
The next business upon the agenda paper was, "Exhibition and
Description of Flint Flakes."—Mr. Worthington Smith, F.L.S., F.R.H.S.,
&c."
Unfortunately Mr. Smith was detained in London; but he sent a
collection of Flakes, and at a short notice the President undertook to
fill his place by giving a general idea of the lines of argument which had
led them to state positively that there had been a Stone Age. Flint
"flakes" and other implements were continually being brought under
their notice, and many members of the Club had come to him with
questions which showed that they were entirely unaccustomed to that
simple mode of interpreting facts which had led to the belief in the
existence of a Stone Age in this and in other countries. That a Stone
Age had existed was shown by a variety of proofs. The evidence was not
obtained from any single specimens, nor was it based upon an isolated set
of facts, but there was a consensus of evidence. Mr. Meldola thought
that a few general remarks upon this interesting subject might be useful,
as serving to prepare the way for those more special papers which they
hoped to get from Mr. Worthington Smith and other members of the Club
who were doing detailed work in this field.
Passing on to the consideration of the various kinds of evidence, the
President first called attention to the peat-bogs of Denmark, in which the
data were chronological; there was clear evidence of a succession in time.
At a certain depth were found fossil Pines associated with stone imple-
ments of undoubted human workmanship. At a later age—a less depth
—there were fossil Oaks, with implements of bronze; and at still later
date the Beech was found in association with weapons of iron. Thus
from one locality they had evidence of the use successively of stone,
bronze, and iron. But of course that did not mean that at any given