elegant entertainment, given by his Worship the Mayor, at the Town Hall. The Council congratulate the members on the determination of the British Association to hold its next meeting in this town, and they feel assured that nothing will be wanting on the part of the members of the Society and its officers to contribute to the comfort of the distinguished visitors that may be expected in Liverpool on that occasion; and that every endeavour will be made to carry out such arrangement as shall make the meeting worthy of this town. During the recess, the publication of the Proceedings has advanced, but the Council regret that, owing to unforeseen circumstances, respecting the printing, over which they had no control, they are unable to present the entire volume in type this evening. The volume, however, will be in the hands of the members in the course of a few weeks. The Council cannot allow this opportunity to pass without expressing to the members the gratification they feel in being able to state that, inasmuch as every former volume has excelled its immediate predecessor, so will the present one excel the last, both in value of matter and in illustrations. The Council being anxious that the Society should still exercise its functions with unimpaired efficiency, appointed a sub-committee from its own body, to consider the state of the finances, and to report to the council upon the following points; namely, the propriety of raising the subscriptions; the formation of different classes of subscribers; on life subscriptions; on compositions; upon the continuance of the practice of giving tea, coffee, &c., and sending out circulars; on the payment for the transactions, for the tea and coffee; and such other points as they may consider to bear upon the subject; and the Council beg to lay before the Society their Report, which is as follows: 66 The Sub-Committee are of opinion that it is desirable the Society should make the following alterations with reference to the above subjects, namely: "That the subscriptions payable by ordinary members be increased to £1 1s., with an entrance fee of 10s. 6d. as at present; and that life members be admitted at £10 10s., without entrance fee. That the present members of the Society, and all proposed as members prior to the adoption of any alteration in the subscription, be allowed to compound for their future annual subscriptions by the payment of £5 58., provided th... me be done during the Session 1853-54. "T ice are also of opinion that tea and coffee, and 1 and Cheshire, Royal Institution of Great Britain, Literary and Philosophical Societies of Hull and Manchester, Royal Irish Academy, and the Peace Conference Committee. The Council refer with great pleasure to two resolutions passed by the Society during the early part of the session. Ist. "That Visitors be admitted at the commencement of the meeting." 2nd. "That the privilege of attending the public meetings be given to the presidents and secretaries, ex officio, of such societies as meet in the Royal Institution, or may be approved by the Society." In accordance with the last mentioned regulation, the Society, on the recommendation of the Council, invited the attendance, at our meetings, of the President and Secretary of the Polytechnic Society, Architectural and Archæological Society, Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, and the Chemists' Association. This has been most gracefully acknowledged by these societies, and the same privilege has been extended to the officers of this society in return. Your Council are fully aware of the desirableness of encouraging that friendly feeling which now exists between the learned Societies of the town, and in order to cultivate it more fully, the Council are of opinion that, when papers of public or general interest are to be brought before this Society, they should be authorized to invite the members of other Societies and the public to attend the meeting. Invitations of this nature were received during the Session from the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, to attend a day meeting on the 5th May, and also from the Chemists' Association, to attend the exhibition, by Mr. Staite, of the Electric Light, in the Theatre of the Royal Institution, on the 29th April. Both these invitations were gladly accepted by the members of this Society, and the meetings were numerously attended. The Council refer with satisfaction to a most agreeable re-union of the Societies at the celebration of the centenary of the birthday of William Roscoe, on the 8th March last. On this occasion the members of the learned Societies of the town, with their friends, met together (1,200 in number), at a public breakfast in the Philharmonic-hall, under the presidency of the Right Hon. the Earl of Sefton, Lord-Lieut. of the County, when we were also honoured with the presence of our excellent Chief Magistrate, the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, and other distinguished visitors. The opening of the valuable museum presented to the town by the Earl of Derby followed, and the day's proceedings closed with an elegant entertainment, given by his Worship the Mayor, at the Town Hall. The Council congratulate the members on the determination of the British Association to hold its next meeting in this town, and they feel assured that nothing will be wanting on the part of the members of the Society and its officers to contribute to the comfort of the distinguished visitors that may be expected in Liverpool on that occasion; and that every endeavour will be made to carry out such arrangement as shall make the meeting worthy of this town. During the recess, the publication of the Proceedings has advanced, but the Council regret that, owing to unforeseen circumstances, respecting the printing, over which they had no control, they are unable to present the entire volume in type this evening. The volume, however, will be in the hands of the members in the course of a few weeks. The Council cannot allow this opportunity to pass without expressing to the members the gratification they feel in being able to state that, inasmuch as every former volume has excelled its immediate predecessor, so will the present one excel the last, both in value of matter and in illustrations. The Council being anxious that the Society should still exercise its functions with unimpaired efficiency, appointed a sub-committee from its own body, to consider the state of the finances, and to report to the council upon the following points; namely, the propriety of raising the subscriptions; the formation of different classes of subscribers; on life subscriptions; on compositions; upon the continuance of the practice of giving tea, coffee, &c., and sending out circulars; on the payment for the transactions, for the tea and coffee; and such other points as they may consider to bear upon the subject; and the Council beg to lay before the Society their Report, which is as follows: "The Sub-Committee are of opinion that it is desirable the Society should make the following alterations with reference to the above subjects, namely: "That the subscriptions payable by ordinary members be increased to £1 1s., with an entrance fee of 10s. 6d. as at present; and that life members be admitted at £10 10s., without entrance fee. That the present members of the Society, and all proposed as members prior to the adoption of any alteration in the subscription, be allowed to compound for their future annual subscriptions by the payment of £5 58., provided the same be done during the Session 1853-54. 61 The Sub-Committee are also of opinion that tea and coffee, and circulars, should be continued; and, also, that the transactions should be published as heretofore." It was moved by the Rev. Dr. HUME, and seconded by Mr. JOSEPH BOULT "That the Report be adopted, with the exception of that part containing a recommendation to increase the amount of annual subscription." Amendment moved by Dr. DUNCAN, and seconded by Mr. J. B. YATES "That the Report of the Council be received; and that the consideration of the increase of subscription be considered at a future meeting, to be called as soon as the laws will admit."-Amendment carried. The TREASURER's Accounts were then read and passed.—(Vide Appendix.) The Society then proceeded to ballot for the new members of Council, three Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. At the conclusion, the Officers of the Society were announced as follows: President. JOSEPH DICKINSON, M.A., M.D., M.R.I.A., F.L.S., &c. Vice-Presidents. JOSEPH BROOKS YATES, ESQ., F.S.A., M.R.G.S. THOMAS INMAN, M.D., F.B.S.E. Treasurer. EDWARD HEATH, ESQ. Hon. Secretary. THOMAS SANSOM, A.L.S., F.B.S.E. FRANCIS ARCHER, ESQ. WILLIAM IHNE, PH.D. Other Members of Council. WILLIAM LASSELL, F.R.S., F.R.A.S. DAVID PURDIE THOMSON, M.D. The Rev. Dr. HUME moved a vote of thanks to the retiring Council and Officers, which was carried unanimously. Mr. ALEXANDER BALDEY, Mr. JOHN AUGUSTUS SOMMERS, and Mr. JAMES MILLER SHAIN were elected Ordinary Members. The Rev. JAMES BOOTH, LL.D., F.R.S., &c., was elected a Corresponding Member. The SECRETARY read the following recommendation from the Council, viz.:-"That the form of Application for admission be altered, by leaving out the words-" and to furnish, when called for, the title of a paper to be read in the Society." It having been put from the chair, was carried unanimously. The SECRETARY read a letter from Mr. Abraham, Honorary Secretary of the Chemists' Association, inviting the members of the societies which meet at the Royal Institution, and also those of the Historic Society and the Liverpool Academy, to attend a lecture on the new Crystal Palace at Sydenham, to be delivered by Mr. T. C. Archer, at the Royal Institution, on Friday evening next. Resolved unanimously-" That the thanks of the Society be presented to the Chemists' Association." The SECRETARY read a letter from Mr. Boult, dated the 14th of October, 1853, inclosing copies of the undermentioned resolutions, passed at a meeting of gentlemen, members of two or more of the local learned societies, publishing transactions, convened by circular, and held in the Library of Mr. Mayer's Egyptian Museum, on Thursday evening, the 13th instant, Edward Heath, Esq., in the chair, viz. :1st. " That it appears to this meeting that an union of the following societies, viz., the Literary and Philosophical, the Polytechnic, the Architectural and Archæological, and the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, is in many respects highly desirable." 2nd. "That, to obtain a full and deliberate consideration of the whole subject, we respectfully request each of the four societies to appoint representatives, not exceeding five, to deliberate together, and to prepare a Report, to be submitted to the societies respectively." 3rd. "That, Mr. Thomas Brakell having offered to print 1,000 copies of the Report, when ready, for presentation to the members of all the Societies, the best thanks of this meeting be presented to Mr. Brakell, and his liberal offer be accepted." Mr. FORSHAW gave notice that he would move the consideration of the subject at the next meeting. The CHAIRMAN having alluded to the intended visit of the British Association to Liverpool next year, it was moved by Mr. J. B. YATES, seconded by Dr. HUME, and carried unanimously— |