conchological, one on antiquities, one geological, one on 
phrenology, one physiological, and one on the early his- 
tory of physical science. 
« Besides the usual meetings, a conversazione was given, 
at the Museum, which was attended by about 100 per- 
sons, comprising members and shareholders, and other 
gentlemen of the town and its vicinity, who were invited, 
as guests. Some interesting information was brought 
forward, relative to the opening of coal and iron workings 
in the County of Antrim, and the discovery of certain 
chemical products of peat, illustrated by specimens. This 
occasion was made use of to bring forward a proposition, 
that the British Association should be invited to hold an 
early meeting in Belfast, and arrangements were made to 
solicit the co-operation of the different public bodies con- 
nected with the town. A ready and willing concurrence, 
on their part, having been given, and invitations for- 
warded by them, a deputation from this town will be pre- 
pared to appear in support of the invitation, at the Bir- 
mingham meeting of the British Association, this year. 
The Council trust, that this may lead to a result which 
must prove highly advantageous, in many ways, and, more 
especially, in stimulating the people of Belfast to increased 
zeal in the pursuit of knowledge. 
“The suecess which continues to attend the throwing 
open of the Museum, on Easter Mondays, to the working 
classes, at a nominal charge, is most gratifying ; and the 
following table is given to shew the rapidly progressive 
increase of the numbers who have availed themselves of 
this privilege :— 
“On Easter Monday, 1845, which was the first occasion 
when the Museum was opened, in this manner, the number 
who visited it was nearly 1,000 ; in 1846, it was upwards 
of 1,500 ; in 1847, upwards of 2,000 ; in 1848, 3,200 ; and 
in the present year, nearly 5,000. 
“ Notwithstanding this large influx of visitors, of various 
classes—including a large proportion of children, from 
whose carelessness or ignorance a certain extent of injury 
to the collection might have been, if not almost expected, 
at least, naturally allowed for—the Council have again the 
pleasing fact to record, that no specimen suffered, in the 
en 
