Annual Report of the Conneil. xxxvii 



England, wliose achievements he had by heart, or witli notable 

 members of the Society, many of whose names are now little 

 more than a memory. It was he, for example, who recalled a 

 little-known branch of Sir Henry Bessemer's activities in a com- 

 munication to Mr. E. F. Lange (see the la tier's paper on 

 "Bessemer, Giirannson and Mushet," Memoirs, Vol. I, VII., 

 pp. 35-38), by quoting a letter from Bessemer to his niece, 

 Lady Allen, in 1897, when the famous inventor was 85 years 

 old. In this Sir Henry refers at some length to his early 

 discoveries of the method of making the so-called gold powder, 

 used for painting, and of embossing patterns on velvet by 

 means of heated rollers, a secret which he kept for many years, 

 and turned to profitable account. Such recollections were 

 invariably enlivened by literary allusions and quotations, of. 

 which Sir William possessed a remarkable store. 



He died on November 23rd, 1913, and was buried at 

 Brooklands Cemetery, the Society being represented at the 

 funeral by Mr. R. L. Taylor (Secretary). L. C. B. 



Walter Lionel Behnens was born at Oak House, Fallow- 

 field, Manchester, on July 15th, 186 [, and died on February 

 15th, 1 9 13, at his residence, the Acorns, Fallowfield. 



He was the eldest son of the late Edward Behrens, of Man- 

 chester ; was educated at Rugby, and was for many years a 

 partner in the firm of S. L. Behrens and Co., of 16, Oxford 

 Street, Manchester. 



In the eighties of the last century he made a tour round the 

 world, during which time he travelled widely in India and spent 

 some time in Japan. It was during this visit that he commenced 

 to collect Netsuke, Inros, Tsubas, and small lacquer pieces ; his 

 collection being finally recognised as one of the best of its kind 

 in the world. He was one of the original members of the Japan 

 Society in London and took great interest in its proceedings. 



Mr. Behrens was for some years a member of the Museum 

 Committee of the Manchester University. He was also on the 

 Council of the Whitworth Institute. W. B. 



