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dredging ; and they had engaged in the work two of the most 

 powerful machines yet made, capable of getting through the 

 hardest material ever dredged. He would be glad on a future 

 occasion to convey them by steamer to see those wonderful 

 machines at work. He thought they had been very fortunate in 

 having Mr. Walker as the contractor. (Mr. Walker was the con- 

 tractor for the Severn Tunnel, and has taken also the Manchester 

 Ship Canal contract.) His work was splendidly done, and the 

 prices were low ; so that they would have probably the cheapest 

 docks in England. Councillor Eawcliffe humorously observed 

 that the Preston scheme would be working some time before the 

 Manchester Ship Canal, but he trusted that they would be in a 

 position to spare some surplus trade from the port of Preston for 

 the Ship Canal. A vote of thanks to Mr. Sowerbutts, who made 

 some announcements concerning the coming meetings of the 

 Geographical Society, was carried on the proposition of Mr. F. J. 

 Grant, seconded by Mr. Slake, of Manchester. 



The afternoon was fine throughout, and the arrangements ex- 

 cellent, so that the visit was of a thoroughly entertaining and 

 profitable description. 



OBITUAEY NOTICE. 



THE LATE RICHARD CHARLES. 



Since the issue of our last volume we have another name to 

 add to the list of old friends who have passed away. Eichard 

 Charles, " Our Old Librarian," died on Monday, June 13th, 1887, 

 at the good old age of 77. Mr. Charles, as is well known, had 

 been declining in health and strength for some years past, but 

 slowly leaving his friends the hope that he might yet be spared 

 for some few years to recount the reminiscences of his early 

 years, when Burnley was a very different place from what it 

 is to-day. Eichard Charles could remember many incidents 

 of past times which to young people might seem like fables or 

 the self-pleasing fictions of garrulous old age. He told of bull- 

 baits and cock-fights as of familiar things, and of other incidents 

 of old Burnley life which few besides himself remembered. He 

 was present at many movements and the making of many per- 

 sonal fortunes and public interests. The building of Trinity 

 Church and of all the sacred edifices which have risen since, 

 he knew, and could recall the histories of these for more than 

 sixty years back. He was one of the early members of the 

 Mechanics' Institution, with which he became connected on the 



