172 THE CONVERSAZIONE: 
as in their native haunts, with all their natural surroundings. These 
have been done by Mr. Walker, as a gift to the new Natural History 
Museum at South Kensington. . 
Grotocy.—Mr. W. J. Harrison exhibited a complete series of the 
crystalline and metamorphic rocks of Charnwood Forest; Mr. J. R. 
Gregory, (London,) a grand group of Trigonia clavellata, fern Adiantites 
Hibernica, from the old redstone of Kiltorcan; polished specimens of 
Labradorite, Hippurites; and large photographs of a restoration of the 
mammoth ; Mr. J. HE. Weatherhead, select specimens of minerals and 
fossils; Mr. J. S. Hedderly, (Bulcote,) flint implements from the coast 
of Lincolnshire; Dr. C. Callaway, Pre-cambrian rocks from Shropshire 
and South Wales; Mr. E. Wilson, (Nottingham,) Ceratodus altus, (tooth,) 
mountain limestone, fish-teeth from Ticknall, &c.; Mr. EH. Hollier, 
(Dudley,) a magnificent collection of trilobites and other Silurian fossils 
from the neighbourhood of Dudley; Mrs. Islip, drawings of glaciers, &c.; 
Mr. C. Packe, geological maps, &c., of the Pyrenees; Mr. P. Mackennal, 
polished rocks, &c. 
ArcumoLocy.—Mr. H. Longhurst, collection of Egyptian antiquities ; 
Mr. J. E. Weatherhead, Roman pottery and Loseby ware. 
GeneraL Scrence.—Mr. W. J. Lancaster (Birmingham) had a very 
successful electric lamp, electric suspender, zoescope, and a large collec- 
tion of physical apparatus, including telephones, (Reiss transmitter,) 
microphones, &c.; Mr. E. T. Loseby, a new method of insulating the 
wires of induction coils, and spun glass as a substitute for “‘ spider-lines ” 
in telescopes; Mr. F. Parsons, a collection of pneumatic, electrical, and 
photographic apparatus; Mr. T. Bolton, the collographic process of 
printing, by which numerous facsimilies were printed off from drawings 
done by the spectators ; Mr. W. P. Marshall, the ‘“‘ rigid chain,” devised 
by Dr. Hopkinson. Mr. Marshall has devised new experiments for this 
apparatus; he throws the rapidly revolving chain altogether off the 
‘pulley, and it continues to retain its shape for some seconds whilst rising 
through the air or moving along the ground; Mr. W. S. Franks, a five- 
inch achromatic refracting telescope, with equatorial stand. Spectro- 
scopes were placed in a separate darkroom. Mr. C. Packe exhibited his 
large instrument which very widely divides the D line, and others were 
shown at work by Messrs. H. T. Loseby, J. W. Burton, &e. 
MisceLLANrous.—Mr. Barfield’s carvings on wood and marble were 
much admired, as also were paintings on porcelain, by Abbott, exhibited 
by Mr. P. Mackennal. 
The extensive collections in the Town Museum attracted the atten- 
tion of visitors from a distance. The collection of Roman antiquities is 
very extensive and abounds in fine specimens, whilst the Natural 
History, Geological, and other collections, are also on a very large and 
complete scale for a provincial Museum. The Institution is rate- 
supported, and is also the head-quarters of the Leicester Literary and 
Philosophical Society, whose members have always taken the greatest 
interest in its prosperity. 
Among other attractions of the Conyersazione we must not omit to 
mention Mr. H. Nicholson’s excellent band, which discoursed sweet music 
throughout the evening. The refreshments were well served by Mr. 
Roberts. The total number of visitors was about 400, and as the weather - 
was propitious, it appeared to be generally felt that the affair was all 
that could be desired. The whole of the arrangements had been made 
by the Council and sections of the Literary and Philosophical Society of 
Leicester, the principal workers being Messrs. F. T. Mott, T. Carter, 
A. Paget, W. Kempson, E. F. Cooper, G. H. Garnar, C. Baker, and 
W. J. Harrison. 
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