8 



system of warfare since the invention of Gunpowder ; and 

 ffave some general remarks on the Art of Fortification. 

 The Lecture concluded with observations on the Art of 

 Clothing, and under this head many particulars sf interest 

 were stated, affording gratifying reflections to the contem- 

 plative mind on the degree of increased comfort en- 

 joyed at the present time, when compared with the helpless- 

 ness of man before art afforded its aid to ameliorate his 

 natural condition. 



October 20. — Mr. William Brent delivered a second Lec- 

 ture on Amphibia, the third class of the Linnsean Arrange- 

 ment.— He recapitulated the heads of his former Lecture, 

 in which the first three Genera of the first order, Reptilia, 

 viz : — Testudo, Rana, and Draco, were severally treated 

 of. — In this Lecture the two remaining Genera, Lacerta and 

 Syrene, were respectively examined, and many of the 

 species of this division of the subject described, and their' 

 habits and economy explained. — The Lecture was illustrated 

 by numerous specimens from the glass cases of the 

 Museum. 



October 27.— Mr. Wilkinson delivered a Lecture on the 

 Invention of Printing, After giving an appropriate intro- 

 duction, he set forth the imperfect means of literary com- 

 munication amongst the Greeks and Romans, and during the 

 dark and middle ages. He then treated on the production, 

 and the loss of manuscript books, noticing the discovery of 

 manuscripts, and the restorers of classical Literature in 

 the middle ages. He traced the first efforts towards the 

 invention of the Art, glanced at its early history and its in- 

 troduction in the continental kingdoms of Europe. He then 

 particularly alluded to its introduction into Britam by Cax- 

 ton, giving some interesting biographical notice and parti- 

 culars of his life and labours, and after a summary of his 

 subject, concluded the Lecture with an address shewing the 

 aoTantages which had arisen by the invention of the Art, 

 to Science and Literature, and to the general interests of 

 mankind. 



November 3.— Mr. Marten continued his course of Lec- 

 tures on Ethics. On this occasion he briefly considered the 



systems of Mandeville, Hobbs, and Clarke, which were all 

 deemed inconsistent with fact and observation. He after- 

 wards dwelt more largely on the hypothesis of Hume, com- 

 monly called the doctrine of utility. — This system was also 

 deemed false, since men do not generally applaud their fellow 

 men for moral worth according to the largeness of their gifts, 

 but according to the feeling by which they are actuated in 

 the bestowment of them. 



