kingflom, and with reference to the great practical objects of circulation, is on 

 the whole more liberally conducted. 



A second indication of this change is to be found in the history of the Bristol 

 Institution. Twenty years ago, when the plan of this Institution was first set on 

 foot, the project was laughed at by many as cliimerical ; but since its establish- 

 ment, a period of twelve years, it has been progressively increasing in import- 

 ance. Its Reading Rooms are invariably much frequented; its Museum and 

 six subordinate apartments were formerly ridiculed as absurdly large — they are 

 now too small for the Collection, a large part of which remains necessarily 

 packed up. The Collection itself is a large and respectable one, containing 

 nearly complete Zoological, Conchological, and Mineralogical series ; its unri- 

 valled series of Crinoidea is by the monograph of the late able curator, Mr. 

 Miiller, too well known throughout Europe to need particular mention here. The 

 collection of Egyptian Antiquities also is a respectable and an increasing one. 



The manner in which the Theatre attached to the Institution has been occu- 

 pied, is a strong proof of the justice of these remarks. In that Theatre there 

 have been delivered annually, since the period of its opening in 1823, not fewer 

 than from four to five courses of lectures, many of them by members of the 

 Institution, for its benefit, and all attended by numerous and sometimes over- 

 flowing audiences. 



Among the members of the Literary and Philosophical Society connected 

 mth the Institution, are many persons eminent in their respective spheres ; and 

 the papers read at the monthly meetings have been of a character often high, 

 and always respectable. 



Considering all these points, and taking into account the fact that these ad- 

 vances have been made during years of heavy commercial and domestic distress, 

 in which Bristol has largely participated, we are surely warranted in assuming, 

 that her inhabitants are no"^ indifferent to either Science or Literature, and as a 

 further consequence, that the present Journal, as it will encourage and direct 

 those pursuits, will be in turn supported by them. 



Nor are the prospects of such a Journal confined to Bristol. The neighbour- 

 ing city of Bath possesses also her Institution, her Museum, and her Library; 

 and boasts many inhabitants from whom, without at all wishing to interfere 

 with the har\est of our neighbours, both scientific and literary communicatiofls 

 may be expected. 



