SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE IN LARGE TOWNS. 97 



improvement, and I trust that they will receive continued and in- 

 creasing support from their richer neighbours in so laudable an 

 undertaking. Perhaps the best way in which money can be bestow- 

 ed is in assisting the efforts of those who are striving hard for them- 

 selves. 



The direct manner in which public lectures contribute to the dif- 

 fusion of scientific knowledge is obvious. The facts and experi- 

 ments from which the laws of science are deduced, being palpably 

 exposed to the senses, bring with them a conviction which no read- 

 ing could do ; and being associated with time and place, they be- 

 come strongly engraved upon the memory. For the purpose of in- 

 suring a uniform and steady supply of lectures in large towns, union 

 is found not only to be advantageous, but necessary. Hence, socie- 

 ties are established, and in this town two such now exist — the Me- 

 chanics' Institute, to which I have before alluded, and the Philo- 

 sophical Institution, the members of which are assembled here this 

 evening. 



The necessary appendages to such societies consist in apparatus 

 for making experiments and demonstrating facts connected with all 

 the branches of natural philosophy, and a museum containing speci- 

 mens necessary for the illustration of the Natural History of the 

 earth, embracing the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms ; a 

 good bbrary of scientific works, constantly receiving additions, is 

 also required, to serve as a reference to the lecturers and to the 

 members of the institution. To trace the progress of the Birming- 

 ham Philosophical Institution, and to examine how far it has been 

 enabled to accomplish its objects, cannot be out of place on this occa- 

 sion, when those objects form the subject of the lecture. 



It was established in 1800. The gentleman to whom it owes, if 

 not its existence, at least its early prosperity, is Mr. George Barker, 

 who is well known to most of us. To have mainly contributed to 

 the establishment of a society of this kind, at a time when strong 

 prejudices existed against the diffusion of scientific knowledge, is a 

 proof of an enlightened and vigorous mind, and great energy of cha- 

 racter, and should entitle him to the lasting gratitude of the inhabi- 

 tants of this place. In the course of time, the interests of the Insti- 

 tution were advocated and advanced by many, amongst whom I 

 may, without disparagement to others, mention the names of your 

 president, Mr. John Corrie ; your treasurer, Mr. Russell ; and the 

 late Dr. De Lys and Mr. George Parsons. To the labours of Mr. 

 Parsons, as its secretary, the society owes much ; never were perse- 

 verance, industry, benevolence of heart, soundness of judgment, and 



VOL. VIII., NO. XXIII. 14 



