48 Transactions of the 



by a Conversazione at the College on Satiirclay evening, which was 

 attended by a large and fashionable company. That part of the 

 College known as " Big School," which adjoins the Museum and 

 Library, was devoted to the entertainment. In these rooms was 

 gathered a superb collection of objects of art, vertu, and antiquity, 

 which had been lent by various gentlemen of Clifton. Such rare 

 ciiriosities are but seldom brought together as foimd a temporary 

 abiding-place beneath the roof of the College on Saturday, and 

 the interest and delight with which they were inspected by the 

 numerous visitors showed that the treat was highly appreciated. 

 Our space will not permit us to give anything like an enumeration 

 of the treasures. We can only just glance at a few of the leading 

 ones. In the IMuseum were some valuable cases of animal 

 remains, lent by the Bristol Museum and Library. There were 

 also a number of old Bibles, quaintly illustrated, lent by Mr 

 Francis Fry, of Cotham, which were inspected with considerable 

 interest. Mr W. H. Budgett contributed a number of liighly 

 interesting objects. Disposed about the walls of the Museum 

 were some fine photographic views, principally Venetian, lent by 

 Mr Lewis Fry. We also noticed in this room a model of Clifton 

 College as it will be when completed, by ]Mr Hansom ; a fine 

 collection of models of English seals, lent by Mr H. 0. Wills ; 

 and a number of very rare Elzevir and Aldine volumes, lent by 

 Mr M. J. Barriniiton-Ward. There were also some remarkable 

 old books, contributed by Mr T. Proctor, which, from their size 

 and weiglit, possessed little attraction for lovers of " light " 

 literature. 



" Heavy and huge, they fill the world with dread, 

 Are much admired, and are but little read." 



The lobby, between the Museum and Big School, was embellished 

 with a magnificent collection of large tropical plants and ferns, 

 from the greenhouses of Messrs Joshua Saunders, Lewis Fry, and 

 Walsh. Here, too, were placed, as if in their native woods, some 

 stuffed figures of wild animals, of which a huge gorilla formed the 

 principal attraction. The staircases were also decorated with 

 plants and stuffed birds, in the most profuse manner. The ciiief 

 pains, however, had been lavished upon " Big School," which 

 presented a brilliant aspect. It had been cleared on purpose for 

 the entertainment, and at one end was a raised platform, which 

 was occupied at intervals during the evening by the members of 

 the College Orpheus Society, under the conductorship of Mr 

 Triumell. Half the spacious area was given up to the auditorium, 

 the lower end being left to promenaders. Some magnificent 

 specimens of exotic floriculture were disposed about this end of 



