THE LIVERPOOL

LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING-FORTY-SEVENTH SESSION.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, October 19th, 1857.

THOMAS INMAN, Esq., M.D., PRESIDENT, in the Chair.

The SECRETARY commenced the business of the evening by reading the following report :—

The retiring Council have but a brief report to present at the opening of another Session. That which has closed was very successful, a larger number of papers than usual having been offered, and these at an earlier period than is generally the case, thereby considerably furthering the sessional business.

The society lost by death two distinguished corresponding members-the Right Hon. the Earl of Ellesmere, K.G. and the Rev. Dr. Scoresby, F.R.S.; and by the same cause, two of its ordinary members-Richard Vaughan Yates, Esq., and Robert Bickersteth, Esq. Its strength of members compared with that at the beginning of the last Session may be thus stated:

Ordinary members on the roll at last annual

Anderson, H. Behrend, T. Gray, A. Holt,
C. Kirwan, J. M'Cann, N. McLeod, W. H.
Pearse, and H. W. Shain

Ordinary members removed from the roll-
Messrs. F. Archer, J. B. Aspinall, J.T. Danson,
De Finance, and F. L. Hodson

9

5

....

16

Total ordinary members at present time..... 153 Corresponding members on former list... 44 Elected since then

Dead

1

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;