PROCEEDINGS Ol' SOCIETIES. 227 



to be hoped that our professional members may, from their 

 stores of experience and study, contribute more liberally to the 

 general fund. 



Before the next session is far advanced the members of the 

 British Association and many distinguished foreigners will be 

 amongst us, and it behoves one and all of our members to make 

 every exertion that this Section may worthily represent the 

 microscopy of the day, and the city to which we belong. 



The following circular has been issued by the Microscopical 

 Committee on the prospect of the meeting of the British Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Science at Manchester. 



Sir, — This sub-committee, having been charged with the orga- 

 nization of a Soiree, to be given to the members of tlie British 

 Association, in the Free Trade Hall, on Thursday evening, 

 September 5th, will feel obliged if you will forward to the 

 Secretary a list of the microscopes, microscopical drawings, and 

 special objects you may be willing to place at the disj)osal of the 

 sub-committee for selection and exhibition on that evening. 



Loans of microscopes and microscopic gas lamps are specially 

 requested for the evening, and the greatest care will be taken of 

 them whilst under the charge of the sub-committee. 



It IS particularly requested that replies may be sent in on or 

 before the 20th July. — I am. Sir, yours respectfully, Gteoege 

 MosLEY, Honorary Secretary of this sub-committee. 



MicRoscopicA-L Society oe Newcastle-on-Tyne. 



In October, 1859, a few gentlemen interested in microscopical 

 pursuits formed a class in this town for mutual improvement in 

 the use of the microscope. Thirty-eight ladies and gentlemen 

 were enrolled members ; the class met weekly for twelve weeks, 

 and, at the close of that period, the members resolved upon the 

 formation of a Microscopical Society. Eighteen members were 

 enrolled, out of which number an executive pro. tern, was selected, 

 and provisional rules passed. The Society, with eighteen as a 

 nucleus, met fortnightly in its rooms, 79, Clayton Street, New- 

 castle-on-Tyne, and, at the termination of the first year of its 

 existence, seventy-four members had been entered on the books. 

 At the first anniversary, held on Tuesday evening, January 15, 

 1861, Dr. McNay, the first year's President, occupied the chair, and 

 twenty-four members were presen^. On that occasion the Secretary 

 read a report of the proceedings of the past year, of which the 

 following is an abstract. After alluding to the recent formation 

 of the Society, and the interest now felt in microscopical studies, he 

 stated that the Society met fortnightly, that it numbered seventy- 

 four members ; the average attendance of whom at each fortnightly 

 meeting having been twenty ; that a large number of excellent 

 works had been purchased during the year for the use of the 



