PREFACE. vii 
have frequent opportunities of meeting and con- 
verfing together, thought begets thought, and 
every hint is turned to advantage. A fpirit of 
inquiry glows in every bread. Every new dis¬ 
covery relative to the natural, intelle&ual or 
moral world, leads to a farther invedigation 5 
and each man is zealous to didinguilh himfelf in 
the intereding purfuit. 
Such have been the confiderations that have 
led to the inditution of the Literary and Phi- 
lofophical Society of Mancheder.—Many years 
fince, a few Gentlemen, inhabitants of the town, 
who were infpired with a tade for Literature 
and Philofophy, formed themfelves into a kind 
of weekly club, for the purpofe of converfing 
on fubje&s of that nature. Thefe meetings 
were continued, with fome interruption, for 
feveral years; and many refpedlable perfons 
being defirous of becoming Members, the num¬ 
bers were increafed fo far, as to induce the 
founders of the Society to think of extending 
their original defign. Prefidents, and other 
officers were elected, a code of laws formed, 
and a regular Society condituted, and deno¬ 
minated, THE LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL 
SOCIETY OF MANCHESTER. 
This Society now prefents the fird fruits of 
its inditution to the public j and from the 
affiduity of the Members, and the correfpondence 
of others, there is reafon to prefume, that a 
A 4 volume 
