4 



occasions, gave a course of Six Lectures on Chemistry, 

 and one on the Diamond. These Lectures, hke Mr. 

 MuiTay's other performances, displayed uncommon 

 abihty, and accurate research; and his experiments 

 were beautiful and striking : yet your Council regret to 

 say, that the audience did not equal their expectations. 

 It is hoped, that the falling off in the attendance on 

 these courses, does not indicate a declining taste for 

 scientific lectures, on the part of the public ; but may 

 be ascribed to accidental and temporary causes, and 

 especially to the prevailing depression in the trade of 

 the town and port. Next season, we may hope, will 

 wear a brighter aspect. 



The only other Lecture given this year, in connection 

 with your Society, is that of Dr. Young, at the present 

 Meeting, on some ancient Waxed Tablets, witli Roman 

 and Greek Inscriptions, written about the year of Christ, 

 167, and discovered in old gold mines in Transylvania, 

 forty or fifty years ago. 



Several valuable additions have been made this year 

 to the Society's collections, partly by purchase, partly 

 by exchange, and partly by gift. One of the most 

 interesting, is a set of specimens from the Oxford Clay, 

 Coral Rag, and Kelloways Rock, in Wiltshire, obtained 

 by Dr. Young, from Chaning Pearce, Esq., in exchange 

 for Fossils of our own coast, procured at small expense. 

 Some of these specimens are rare and curious, parlicu- 

 lai'ly a series of Ammonites shewing a kind of proboscis, 

 or protruded mouth, in various states of developement. 



