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which we are now assembled, an evening meeting 

 of the subscribers to the Library was established, 

 for the purpose of literary conversation. Your 

 former president, the late Dr. Alderson, in address- 

 ing the subscribers to the Library, at a general 

 meeting in December, 1804, stated that nothing 

 could exceed the ardour which the youth, 

 on the establishment of that literary society, 

 shewed to improve themselves in useful know- 

 ledge. It was attended by above one hundred 

 of the subscribers, but owing to some unfortu- 

 nate differences, which took place among a few 

 individuals, the harmony of its proceedings was 

 interrupted, and it was found necessary to 

 discontinue its meetings. The extinction of 

 this society gave rise to a select literary one, 

 which was formed on the 19th of February, 1803, 

 and which met regularly once a fortnight through 

 the winter season, in each year, until the 31st 

 of July, 1809, when it ceased to exist. The 

 duties of secretary to this society, during its con- 

 tinuance, were discharged with great attention 

 and punctuality by Mr. Richard Woodhouse. 

 Many excellent papers were produced at its 

 meetings, and the discussions which followed 

 were frequently of an extremely interesting and 

 instructive nature ; nor can this be doubted, 

 when it is known that the society had on the list 

 of its members Dr. Alderson, the Rev. Richard 



