SOIREES AT THE LIVERPOOL ROYAL INSTITUTION. 123 



productions of their counties, and opened museums at least at stated times to the 

 public ? for I scarcely recognize the public spirit that admits members only, or 

 demands a fee for what ought to be open for general benefit. I contend that a 

 museum open only to certain persons, or on payment of a fee, is in effect a pri- 

 vate museum, and will never advance the popularity of Natural History. There 

 is another point — it often happens that votaries of Natural History, men born 

 with the spirit for the pursuit glowing within them, are poor, nay, occasionally in 

 very subordinate situations. — I have known many clever fellows in their way, so 

 situated. Now are these sought out, and brought to bear as they ought to be, or 

 at any rate admitted gratuitously to the society in return for their ready talent 

 and manipulations ? This ought to be, if good is to be effected of a permanent 

 character. The lectures, too, given under the auspices of Natural History 

 Societies — and all ought to have lectures — should be of a popular character, to 

 excite attention — engage interest — and awaken thought on the various phenomena 

 of Nature. Mere professional lectures are ill suited to a mixed audience, and 

 sometimes alarm and disgust. Occasionally, also lectures free to the public should 

 be given. 



I wish to awaken attention on the subject of this paper, and if my remarks 

 should be deemed worth consideration, I will at the first convenient opportunity 

 resume them. 



Dryadville Cottage, near Worcester, 

 January 15, 1838. 



ACCOUNT OF THE SOIREES AT THE LIVERPOOL ROYAL 

 INSTITUTION. 



By Mr. T. B. Hall. 



I send you the following account of two Soirees or Conversazioni, which have 

 )een held at the Royal Institution in Liverpool ; it may perhaps be interesting to 

 some of your readers, and may serve as a model for similar ones that might prove 

 successful in various towns, wherever there is a museum or rooms suitable for 

 the purpose. They are part of a series which it is proposed to give during the 

 present winter, and to continue in succeeding winters if they should be found to 

 be acceptable to the public. They are under the management of a sub-committee 

 of the proprietors of the Royal Institution, and a sub-committee of the Literary 

 and Philosophical Society. Their motives for giving them are to extend the taste 

 for science, literature, and the arts ; and to impart more fully their influence to 

 society ; they therefore think it desirable to afford to the inhabitants of Liverpool 



YOL. III. — no. xvm. s 



