13 
In responding to the toast, Dr. Brumwell, J.P., referred to 
the gratifying success the Club had achieved, and said that in a 
great measure this was due to the unwearied exertions of their 
first Secretary (Mr. W. A. Waddington), and to the sage counsel 
and practical help of Dr. Coultate, and Aldermen Wilkinson and 
Robinson. In touching upon the future of the Club, he said 
that they would have to take into consideration whether it would 
not be desirable to establish premises, so that the Club might 
have a.“ local habitation,” as well as a name. 
Mr. Henry Nutter here sang an original song dealing with 
_ the Syllabus and Officers of the Club. 
Mr. Joshua Rawlinson, in proposing the ‘‘ Town and Trade 
of Burnley,” gave many interesting facts concerning the history 
and progress of the town. Amongst other things, he pointed 
out that Burnley had during the present century never failed to 
double its population every twenty-five years, and on two 
occasions at least had done so in twenty years. No other 
Lancashire town could present a record of progress comparable 
with that of Burnley and Oldham. He also stated the curious 
and instructive fact that of fifty-eight firms engaged in the cotton 
trade in 1854, only ten were at present in existence, and in only 
five cases was the same business being conducted by their 
successors on the same premises as in 1854. Of 103 firms 
now engaged in the trade, 93 were new since 1854. By 
these facts he showed how precarious and uncertain was the 
staple trade of the town. Other interesting statistics were given, 
and Mr. Rawlinson concluded by hoping that the peculiar 
_ advantages the town possessed would be utilized, and that the 
_ town would continue to grow in numbers, wealth, and prosperity. 
; The Mayor, in responding to the sentiment, deprecated 
_ taking too gloomy a view of the present depressed condition of 
trade. During the thirty years he had been engaged in business 
he had frequently heard the wail that the country was going to 
ruin. When, however, the increased total value of imports and 
exports, the diminution of pauperism, and the increase in the 
business of the Post Office Savings Bank, were taken into 
consideration, they would find that the general prosperity steadily 
progressed. 
In proposing the health of the Officers of the Club, Dr. 
O'Sullivan complimented those gentlemen on the energy they 
had displayed, and expressed the gratitude of the members for 
tie efficient manner in which they had performed their duties. 
Mr. James Kay replied, and spoke of the energy dis- 
played by the Secretary (Dr. Mackenzie) and the fact that 
they were about to publish yearly a volume of ‘“ Transactions.” 
The officers desired to uphold the high character of the Society, 
and promote in every way its well-being. 
