Anderson, H. Behrend, T. Gray, A. Holt, Ordinary members removed from the roll- 9 5 16 Total ordinary members at present time..... 153 Corresponding members on former list... 44. Elected since then 1 45 2 43 Total members at opening forty-seventh Session 196 The volume of "Proceedings" is far advanced, and would have been in the hands of members but for unexpected delays. An important event has marked the period of the Society's recess-the closure of the labours of the Compass Committee, in the formation of which this Society took the initiative. It is a matter of congratulation that their labours have been so highly marked by the government as to have had their last report ordered to be laid before both houses of parliament. The benefit which has resulted to science and to the mercantile interest by these operations, abundantly proves the value of suggestions and pursuits closely directed to a particular inquiry. The donations made to the Society, between the months of June, 1856 and 1857, have been duly laid before the meetings and recorded in the minutes. Among these was a very liberal one from the executors and family of Joseph Brooks Yates, Esq., F.S.A., thrice the President of this Society. These volumes, together with the perfect volumes belonging to the Society, are deposited in the Society's apartments, and under easy regulations, are at the service of the members. At the last meeting of the British Association the Society was well represented, the members present being received as a deputation. The Treasurer's accounts, which will be laid before you, show the Society to be in a very satisfactory financial position. In accordance with the laws of this Society, the retiring Council recommend the following members, in the room of the five who are not eligible for re-election: The Rev. John Robberds, B.A., Messrs. Grainger, B.A., Edward Fletcher, Robert Clay, and W. J. Lamport. They beg now to thank the members for their support, and solicit a continuance of their hearty co-operation in the pursuit of those elevating objects for which the Society is constituted. (Signed) THOMAS INMAN, M.D., President. DAVID P. THOMSON, M.D., Hon. Sec. Royal Institution, October 5th, 1857. The Treasurer's accounts were then submitted, from which it appeared that the outlay of the Society for the year had amounted to £115 1s. 1d., while the balance in hand was £210 1s. 5d. Mr. SWINTON BOULT remarked that the sum of £10 10s. set down as a charge for reporting the meetings, seemed to him unusual. He felt certain that the newspaper press would be happy to report the Society's Proceedings with as much fulness as was desirable, without any charge whatever. He should not object to the payment of the present sum, but should feel himself warranted in endeavouring to prevent it for the future. The SECRETARY explained that the charge was voted by the Society, according to usual form of having the subject twice before them, and on both occasions affirmed. The report was adopted and accounts passed. A ballot being taken for a new Council, the votes stood. thus-For the five new men-John Grainger, B.A. 15, Edward Fletcher 15, Robert Clay 15, Rev. John Robberds, B.A. 13, and W. J. Lamport 13; for the nine othersH. H. Higgins, M.A. 17, Isaac Byerley, F.L.S. 17, Dr. Thomson 16, J. B. Edwards, Ph.D. 16, W. Ihne, Ph.D. 15, T. C. Archer 15, Richard Brooke, F.S.A. 15, J. C. Redish 13, A. Higginson 10. The President's term not having expired, Dr. Inman continued in that office. The VicePresidents, Treasurer, and Secretary, were then elected, viz.-Rev. H. H. Higgins, M.A., T. C. Archer, W. Ihne, Ph.D., Vice-Presidents; Isaac Byerley, F.L.S., Treasurer; and David P. Thomson, M.D., Honorary Secretary. The following donations to the Society were announced: Hansen's Tables de la Lune; Earl of Dundonald on the Bitumen of Trinidad; Reports of the Liverpool Compass Committee; Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society; Newlands's Report on Baths and Wash-houses; Proceedings of the Historic Society, vol. 9; Spencer's Report on the Corporation Water Works; Nevins and Edwards on the Rivington Water-several copies for distribution; Proceedings of the Linnean Society; Ditto Zoological Society; Ditto Chymists' Association; Ditto Dublin Natural History Society; Ditto Dublin Geological Society; Report of the Warwick Natural History Society; Provincial Magazine, 4 parts. RICHARD BROOKE, Esq., F. S. A., exhibited a curious antique bronze celt, considered to have been fabricated by the ancient Britons. He stated that celts were far from uncommon in Western Europe; and that he had seen many of them both in this country and in France; and that there was an excellent collection of them in Liverpool, in Mr. Mayer's museum-that antiquaries differed with respect to the use of them; some supposing that they were weapons, and others that they were implements used by the ancient Britons and other uncivilized tribes. He drew the attention of the meeting to the circumstance that, on each side of the one now exhibited, there were some slight attempts at ornamenting it, by small raised ribs or projecting lines; and that on one side of it there was a bronze loop (which was not uncommon in other celts), apparently intended to suspend it by means of a thong, or string, to the neck or belt of the person who carried it; all of which showed an advanced degree of skill in the workmanship, when compared with the very rude and ill-shaped celts found in some museums. He observed that moulds for casting celts have been discovered in this country; and that several of them are in the British Museum, in one of which, in consequence of some defect in the casting, there is a celt fast in the matrix. Mr. BROOKE also stated that the celt now exhibited was found in Northamptonshire, and was presented to him last May, when visiting for the second time Bosworth Field, by Mr. John Rubley, of Dadlington Fields, near there, whose kindness, in pointing out the various objects of interest connected with the battle, Mr. Brooke had occasion to mention to the Society, when reading his paper upon the "Field of the Battle of Bosworth." Mr. BROOKE likewise mentioned, as an interesting circumstance, that the ancient custom of tolling the curfew bell, still existed in some places in Lancashire and Cheshire, and that he had been told that Winwick was one of them; but that the custom was certainly kept up at Wilmslow, in Cheshire. He had had occasion, during many years past, to go occasionally into the neighbourhood of Wilmslow, and had very often heard it; and even as recently as last week he had repeatedly heard it. The curfew was always tolled there at eight o'clock in the evening, except Saturdays and Sundays. To accommodate the publicans, a deviation from the hour on those days had lately been made, and instead of eight o'clock, as formerly, it was now tolled at eleven in the evening of Saturday, and at nine in the evening of Sunday, in order to warn them to close their houses in Wilmslow. Mr. T. C. ARCHER remarked that the curfew was regularly tolled in the cathedral at Chester, and other instances were cited by different members. This concluded the business of the meeting. SECOND ORDINARY MEETING. ROYAL INSTITUTION, November 2nd, 1857. DR. INMAN, PRESIDENT, in the Chair. It was announced that the Council, in order to extend the usefulness of the library, had communicated with other societies, with a view to an exchange of publications, and had also made arrangements for the more free circulation of books among the members. Referring to the bequest of the late Mr. Yates, including the Transactions of the British Association up to the year 1854, the SECRETARY mentioned that Dr. Inman had, in the handsomest manner, promised to continue the series during his own lifetime, he being a life-member of |