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vocal and instrumental music, but much more remains to be 

 accomplished, we have plenty of the raw material for song ; it 

 requires only developing and training. Further, might it not 

 tend to develope a taste for scientific pursuits, if an occasional 

 lecture on some particular science, illustrated by diagrams, fossils, 

 specimens, or experiments, were given by gentlemen associated 

 with our club ? Free to the members and friends introduced by 

 them, as at present, it might be open to the public on the pay- 

 ment of a small charge. It did not occur to me to mention the 

 theatre as one of the local aids for promoting a literary culture. 

 It has not hitherto done much to promote science, nor even to 

 advance art. We must, however, concede that it has been an 

 auxiliary in the cause of literature, of which the drama forms an 

 important part. Most, if not all, the literary benefits derivable 

 from the drama may, I venture to think, be obtained from its 

 perusal without a theatrical performance. How often a pleasant 

 and instructive evening might be spent by a party of friends in 

 the reading of a play or a poem, when there would be all the 

 advantage arising from free conversation and discussion, and 

 attention would be far more called to the literary merit of the 

 work than can be the case when it is acted on the stage. A 

 (jallery of paintings would be a valuable local aid in promoting a 

 taste for the fine arts in our midst. There is only one serious 

 objection that I anticipate to this proposal, as well as those of a 

 free library and public museum — that is the expense. How can 

 our Corporation obtain money for these schemes when the 

 necessary sewerage works are absorbing all their available 

 resources ? 



Leaving the discussion of these larger proposals to our local 

 parliament, let me refer to helps which it is in the power of this 

 Club to supply. I am but giving utterance to projects that have 

 already begun to form themselves in the minds of some of our 

 vice-presidents and members of committee when I say that the 

 time has come for us to aim at a more systematic cultivation of 

 literature and science. The arrangements hitherto have been 

 admirably adapted to awaken and foster a literary and scientific 

 spirit, but unless we soon take a decided step in advance we shall 

 be in danger of retrograding. Permit me to state what, in my 

 opinion, are our requirements, and the most feasible way of pro- 

 viding for them. The members of the Club, who are so inclined, 

 should be induced to form themselves into sections for the special 

 study of some one branch of science, as in the meetings of the 

 British Association. Let each have its president, vice-president, 

 and secretary, who, with one or two more, would constitute the 

 committee of that section. Further, as a certain amount of edu- 

 cation is necessary in order to reap or impart benefit at such 

 sectional meetings, we nead classes for instruction where the 



