118 

 LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



The session commenced on Tuesday evening, Nov. 21. The President (Thomas 

 Thompson, Esq.,) read a paper •' On recent Inventions in Art and Science." Owing 

 to the unfavourable state of the weather, the attendance was less numerous than is 

 usually the case, on the opening of the session. Charles Frost, Esq., having been 

 elected to the chair. The President proceeded to read his paper, which was received 

 with marked applause. As we intend publishing the lecture in future number of the 

 Miscellany (Mr. T. having kindly furnished his paper for the purpose,) it is unnece- 

 sary that we should in this place, give an abstract of it. Messrs. Eobt. Craven, 

 Oldham, and Dr. Horner, made some observations ou various points, alluded to in 

 the lecture, which from want of space, we are unable to insert. Mr Shepherd 

 exhibited a model of a new steam engine, for which a patent has been obtained ; the 

 principal improvement consists in an immediate reversal of the stroke, which is 

 obtained simply by moving a lever. 



MECHANICS' INSTITUTE. 



The Winter Session for the delivery of Lectures, commenced on Thursday evening 

 10th November; when Mr. J. D. Sollitt, delivered a lecture "on Light," being intro- 

 ductory to the series, it was very numerously attended, the public being admitted 

 free ; the lecture was illustrated by a variety of experiments, it is not possible 

 however, from the nature of the lecture, depending so much upon the illustrations, 

 to give anything like a report, which would convey a correct idea to our readers, 

 Mr. S. pointed out the properties of solar and artificial light ; and showed the great 

 desideratum in artificial illumination, to be the procuring a perfectly white light; the 

 best light was that which approximated the nearest to this standard. This he 

 iUustrated by several experiments. He then noticed several modem im- 

 provements in the construction of lamps, and called especial attention to some 

 recent improvements in the French lamps, in favour of which he expressed a decided 

 opinion. The production of gas from the vapour of spirits of turpentine, was also 

 noticed, and the method by which it is obtained described. Mr. S. considered the 

 advantages arising from its production in this way to be very great in an economical 

 point of view, and especially recommended it to the attention of those interested 

 in the lighting of factories and other large buildings, and concluded a very 

 interesting and popular lecture, by shewing the immense velocity of light, by an ex- 

 periment with the electrical machine. 



The Secretary (Mr. Richard Webb) announced the following presentations to the 

 Institution, by Mr. Henry Garbutt, a flying fox, (half quadruped and half biped) a 

 man of war's bird, and a Chinese arrow, shot during the late war. 



November 23rd. Mr. Richard Wells, delivered a very able, and highly interes- 

 ting lecture "on the influence of feudalism, on the modem institutions, and society, of 

 England." As we purpose giving the entire lecture in some future number of the 

 Miscellany, (for which we are indebted to the kindness of Mr, W.,) it is unnecessary 

 in this place to say more than that we are sorry, from the unfavourable state of th 

 weather, the Lecture was not more numerously attended. 



