PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 69 



Islands ; the original drawings in Captain Cook's voyages ; speci- 

 mens of minerals, fossils, and antiquities ; coins, missals, &c. 

 The room was decorated with flowers and greenhouse plants, and 

 as the human flowers were in full evening bloom, the mingling of 

 well dressed ladies, with well-lighted microscopes, made a pleasant 

 tableau. It was strictly an evening party ; no lectures, no ad- 

 dresses, nor was there any music, as this would have interrupted 

 the special object of the evening. Tea and coftee were provided 

 by some of the members who lent their servants. 



"VVe have admitted this minute description of arrangements as 

 the success of such entei'tainments consists in arranging every- 

 thing previously, and, as such meetings must spread a taste for 

 microscopical studies, we trust the example of this provincial re- 

 union may be followed in other towns. 



The visitors were of those various classes which do not usually 

 meet in the same evening parties, and this is of social benefit. 

 We want more unity and less division amongst us. Science is a 

 common ground; and in all our leading scientific societies he 

 stands highest who knows the most, or has the greatest gift of 

 insight, whatever may be his social status. 



Manchestek Liteeaey akd Philosophical Society. 



MiCEOSCOPICAL SeCTIOJT. 



21st Octoher, 1861. 

 Professor Williamsoit in the Chair. 



The following gentlemen were elected members of the Section : 

 — Mr. Murray Gladstone, Mr. John Yfhalley, Mr. William Henry 

 Heys, Dr. William Roberts, and Dr. Thomas Alcock. 



The Secretary presented sixty specimens of soundings received 

 since the last Session, from the commanders of various steamers 

 and sailing Acssels, amongst which were a nu.mber from the South 

 Coast of Ireland, Banks of Newfoundland, Coast of Nantucket, 

 U.S., North Coast of Brazil, &c. The Secretary was requested 

 to write a letter of thanks from the Section to each contributor. 



The Chairman remarked that these specimens deserved the' 

 best attention of the Section, not only on account of their intrinsic 

 interest, but to show the contributors that their kindness in 

 preserving the soundings for the Section was fully appreciated. 



]\Ir. Dale ofiered, with the assistance of the Secretary ,''"fto 

 prepare the material, by separation from the tallow, &c., and 

 jMr. Nevill, Mr. Heys, and several other gentlemen, ofiered their 

 assistance in mounting, examination, and reporting to the Section. 



The Chairman observed that the method he employed in the 

 preliminary examination of similar specimens, when freed from 

 tallow and dried, was to stir the mass in a vessel of water, when 

 most of the organic forms rose to the surface, in consequence of 

 containing small quantities of air ; the creamings off" the top of 

 the liquid would be found to contain suflicient indications 

 whether the specimens deserved further attention. 



The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Joseph Sidebotham, 



