19 A 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[Sept. 1, 1866. 



advantages under which Dr. Lankester accepted the 

 office of President of the Club for the first year, and 

 the able and courteous manner in which he filled 

 that office, and after paying a just tribute to the 

 memory of the first member removed from the Club 

 by death, Joseph Toynbee, E.R.S., who was at the 

 period of his decease nominated as President for the 

 ensuing year, the report adverts to the great success 

 of class instruction in microscopical manipulation 

 under the superintendence of Mr. W. T. Suffolk, 

 and gives hope of its being resumed. The field ex- 

 cursions are also alluded to as having been satisfac- 

 tory, the first of these — to Hampstead-heath — being 

 one Saturday afternoon, and the second to Darenth 

 Wood and Swanscombe Marshes, on the 26th June. 

 It is gratifying to learn that this truly practical 

 phase in the operations of the Club was highly ap- 

 preciated by the members, and received their cordial 

 support. As good collections of objects are said to 

 have been made on both occasions, these excursions 

 are likely to be continued at intervals during the 

 summer months. With regard to the library of 

 books of reference, we are only informed that 

 several donations have been received ; hence it may 

 be inferred that another valuable adjunct to an as- 

 sociation of this description has not been forgotten. 



It is not less gratifying to learn that one hundred 

 and twenty-three slides of mounted objects have 

 been contributed by members during the past year, 

 and the Committee shrewdly allude to the fact that 

 one of the members has presented a cabinet capable 

 of containing an additional three hundred and fifty. 

 Let us hope that the " canny " hint will not be for- 

 gotten. 



The list of papers read at the monthly meetings 

 may be taken as an index of the kind of topics 

 which have occupied the attention of the Club. 

 "Work for the Microscope," by M. C. Cooke. 

 "Spiracles of Insects," by R. Beck. "Eive new 

 forms of Microscopical Eungi," and " The Applica- 

 tion of the Microscope to the Discrimination of 

 Vegetable Eibres," by M. C. Cooke. "How to 

 Arrange and Keep a Cabinet," by J. Bockett. " A 

 New Eorm of Microscope," by W. Hislop. " Class 

 Instruction," by W. T. Suffolk. " The Respiratory 

 Organs of Insects," by J. A. Archer. " Manipulation 

 with Canada Balsam," by D. E. Goddard. " Uni- 

 versal Microscopical Admeasurements," by M. C. 

 Cooke. "The Application of Photography and the 

 Magic Lantern to Microscopical Demonstrations," 

 by S. Highley. " Some Motions in the Pale Blood- 

 Corpuscles," by H. Wigg, and " The Pigment Cells 

 of Plants, in some of their varied Forms and 

 Structure," by N. Burgess. 



Allusion is made in the Report to a sub-com- 

 mittee which has been appointed for the examination 

 of vegetable fibres, with an intimation that an in- 

 teresting report might be anticipated at the close of 

 their labours. 



A brief paragraph announces the important fact, 

 that one hundred and fifty-five members have been 

 admitted during the year, and that their interest in 

 the proceedings of the Club " has been manifested, 

 not only by the good attendance at the meetings, 

 but also by the free discussion and friendly inter- 

 course which has been maintained, and which it is 

 hoped may be still further increased by the genial 

 influences of a soiree at no very distant period." 

 This is the climax of the Report. 



At first the meetings of the Club were held in a 

 very comfortable and commodious room in Sackville 

 Street, but the rapid increase, and large attendance 

 of members, soon made it manifest that the accom- 

 modation was far too limited. In fact, the baby's feet 

 were in danger of being crippled by little boots. In 

 this dilemma, by favour of the Council of University 

 College, the Club removed to the Library of that 

 Institution, where its meetings are now held, on the 

 fourth Eriday of every month, at eight o'clock. 



Having given this brief epitome of the first Report 

 of the Quekett Microscopical Club, we may be per- 

 mitted to add that the low rate of subscription, 

 which is only ten shillings per annum, and no en- 

 trance fee, places its advantages within the reach of 

 all amateurs, and it would cause in us but little sur- 

 prise if the number of its members should be nearly 

 doubled during the ensuing year, especially with 

 such an " earnest heart " in the work. 



Any one who has attended the meetings, and con- 

 versed with the members of this club during its 

 brief career, will not fail to have observed the genial 

 spirit of friendly intercourse which prevails, and the 

 total absence of anything approaching to invidious 

 comparison, jealousy, or antagonism, whereby any 

 other fellow-workers in the same field, though in 

 other associations, can feel themselves aggrieved. 

 " Our Club " is named, perhaps, with a feeling of 

 pride, but not of ostentation, and if they are not 

 addicted to seeking for blame in others, it may be 

 attributed to the earnestness with which they are in 

 pursuit of their own studies, and the good will with 

 which they are striving to benefit each other, and 

 advance the cause of microscopical science. 



The prominence which we have giveu to this sub- 

 ject, or, indeed, any notice of it whatever, may at 

 first appear to have been impolitic in us, who address 

 more readers beyond the boundary of the operations 

 of the club than within it. Still, we would hope 

 that a twofold purpose has been served. Micro- 

 scopists far away will learn what some of their 

 metropolitan brethren have been doing for them- 

 selves, and the successful establishment of one such 

 association may, when known, be the means of in- 

 ducing similar efforts in other cities, where hitherto 

 nothing of the kind has been attempted. Whether 

 as news or example, therefore, we commit this 

 brief record to their attention. 



