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Lecture/hip on Subjects of Natural and Experimental Philofophy* 

 at Newcafilc upon Tyne. 



AmONG our provincial foeieties for promoting the culti- Eftabliflimentof 

 vation of literature and philofophical purfuits, the fociety at * e &^ a?New- 

 Newcaftle upon Tyne, has for a number of years pofleiled caftle upon 

 an eminent ftation for the ability of its members, and the un- T y ne * 

 remitting afiiduity and intelligence which they have exerted to 

 difcover and carry into effe& thofe objeds which bodies of 

 men are beft capable of promoting. We all know that it is 

 eafy for a body of men to affemble together ; to dignify them- 

 felves by a name ; to hold forth ftriking pretenfions to the un- 

 inftru&ed multitude ; and to make a fort of commercial traffic 

 of that fcientific celebrity which the voices of men can confer 

 upon each other, for a time at leaft, while the great public 

 may a(k in vain what they have done to deferve it. But when 

 a body of true friends to their country and to mankind meet 

 together, to confider in what way they can beft employ their 

 talents for the good of fociety and the promotion of the arts 

 of civilized life, within that diftrifi which more immediately 

 falls under the limit of their notice, and the extent of their 

 £ower and influence ; — when their well-earned celebrity is a 

 fecondary object, in comparifon with the internal fatisfaclion 

 afforded by a proper employ of talents and virtue — fuch an 

 afTociation becomes a public bleffing, and its good confe- 

 quences extend to the remoteft periods of after times. The Aaive exertions 

 Literary and Philofophical Society of Newcaftle, has already n*^ ^* 

 made inquiries into the ftate of the arts, of agriculture, and 

 of the mineral produces of their vicinity. It has affifted the 

 diffufion of knowledge by the eftablifhent of a well regulated 

 and eafily accefiible library ; and it has lately proceeded to 

 conftitute a le6iurefhip on the fubjects of natural and experi- 

 mental philofophy, the requifite fteps for which are now in »»* 

 progrefs with great fpirit and activity. 



On the fourth of May laft, a paper by Mr. Thomas Bigge, Hiftory of the 

 on the expediency of eftabliftiing a leaurefhip at Newcaftle P ro P ofcd leflure. 

 upon Tyne, upon the fubje&s of natural and experimental 

 philofophy, was read : In this paper, we find a clear, elegant Mr. Bigge's 



