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the section, and he was deputed to say a few words that day, if tim» were 

 given him, upon this subject. It was felt by all present that they had 

 made a start, perhaps not a formal or a first-rate one, but also it was felt 

 very strongly that another year they should attempt some more definite 

 and more organized work than they had attempted this year. Their 

 attendance at the beginning was very good, and showed signs of consider- 

 able elasticity, and it was thought if the section had been advertised 

 more widely they might have got a better attendance. At the last meet- 

 ing an opinion was expressed that many ladies and gentlemen in White- 

 haven would be glad to join the section if it were known and understood, 

 and they would like some more definite course of work and lectures than 

 they had had last winter. What was proposed the other day was that 

 they should endeavour if possible before another winter, to get a regularly 

 organized course of lectures upon astronomy as the work of the section at 

 Whitehaven, and the ciuestion which he had before brought before them 

 of the Cambridge system of University extension was discussed. 

 They found that if they applied for a lecturer from Cambridge upon 

 astronomy it would cost somewhere between ^30 and ^35 a year, 

 if they could get some other town in Cumberland to join them, and it was 

 proposed that they should endeavour, before the next autumn, to get a 

 volunteer to give them a regular course of lectures, and also that the 

 introductory lecture should be given by Professor Stewart, of Cam- 

 bridge, whose name was so well known. He (Mr. ]\Iartin) had 

 promised to endeavour to arrange this on their behalf, and he hoped to be 

 able to report that this would be done some time in the autumn. If so, 

 they would hope to have, at any rate, the sympathy of their 

 fellow-workers in other towns in Cumberland, and possibly, at some future 

 time, to have a regular system of lectures organized at Whitehaven, and 

 perhaps at other places, if the matter were taken up by the feUow- 

 societies. 



The Secketary, the Rev. Canon Batteesby, and Mr. Peile, all 

 concurred with Mr. Martin's observations. 



Dr. I' Anson fully endorsed all that had been said as to tlie work of 

 the different societies being systematized. Looking back to the early days 



