PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 75 
Messrs. Smith and Beck, Ladd, Baker, &c., of London, and Hus- 
bands and Clarke, of Bristol, were in full foree. And herein was 
illustrated the distinctive idea of the Bath Soirée. The microscope, 
as an optical instrument—a triumph of optical science—was 
kept to itself. The microscope, as an aid to scientific investiga- 
tion in well nigh every branch of natural science, claimed its 
rank, and kept it. There has been quite enough of the “ curious 
bauble” style of soirée, and the resolute endeavour to assert the 
real relation of the instrument to general science, could not 
have received more fitting illustration than when two microsco- 
pical societies united to play the host to the British Association. 
Hyery microscopical society is, indeed, such an association in minia- 
ture, so long as it regards the instrument, as an znstrument, a 
means to an end, and, in a generous and comprehensive spirit, 
surveys the entire field of inquiry which it is called upon to 
illustrate by the special power at its disposal. 
In conclusion, we may observe that each of the microscopes 
enumerated above was manipulated by a member of one or other 
of the societies, or by one of their friends; but lest we may 
appear to be actuated by a microscopic partiality for what must 
be regarded as a microscopical triumph, the words of the “‘ Autho- 
rised Reprint of the Report of the British Association” may 
here be quoted : 
“The arrangements, which were under the able direction of 
Dr. Wilbraham Falconer, President of the Bath Microscopical 
Society; Mr. J. W. Morris, its secretary; and Mr. Leipner Acting 
Secretary of the British Microscopical Society, were admirable in 
the extreme. So brilliant was the assemblage that it appears 
almost invidious to enumerate the names of any of the company 
who were present. Science, learning, wit, and beauty were 
equally well represented, and the result was a scene which will 
never fade from the memory of those who witnessed it, and of 
which it may be said in the words of a celebrated Irish poem, 
as translated by Dean Swift, that, like 
***Q’Rourke! noble feast, it will ne’er be forgot 
By those who were there, and by those who were not.’”’ 
The following is the programme of the arrangement of specimens 
at the meeting :— 
VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 
VEGETABLE CHLL AND CELL CONTENTS, 
Forms of Cells. Hairs of Plants. &c. 
2. Spiral Cell and its modifications, SERIES. 
3. Yeast Plant. 
4, Cell contents. Circulation of Endochrome. 
5, 6. Starch, Raphides. Cystoliths. &. SERIES, 
