PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 325 



we know and all that we feel," incorporating all the beauties of exter- 

 nal nature with the very essence of the soul, thus rendering the mate- 

 rial world subsidiary to the spiritual, while it contributes to the power 

 of the imagination and to the improvement of the heart. 



Leicester, hitherto, has possessed no such advantages. It has, in- 

 deed, occasionally numbered some distinguished individuals among its 

 inhabitants, but " few and far between." To associate with enlight- 

 ened men is indeed a singular luxury. Never shall I forget the in- 

 tense interest with which, for several years immediately before my 

 coming to Leicester, I frequented the monthly assemblage of the 

 Geological Society of London. In the midst of my laborious scho- 

 lastic occupations, I hailed that meeting as a rest and refreshment, 

 where I could for some hours enjoy the converse of men of enlarged 

 and cultivated minds, and hear " their speech distilling as the dew," 

 with thoughts calm and copious, bright and new as the fast-falling 

 snows of winter, while elucidating subjects, dark indeed and impene- 

 trable to inferior minds, but open as the day to their penetrating 

 glance, and by them expanded also to the view of others, at the touch 

 of their magic skill. 



If here we can, even at a long distance, follow their steps, it will 

 be a delightsome consummation. Heaven grant, that this our Society 

 may become an honor, a blessing and a delight to all that frequent 

 it ! This fervent wish affords some better hope of accomplishment, 

 now than heretofore, if you reflect upon the widely increasing pros- 

 pects of a liberal education that have opened upon the town within 

 the space of the last year. Two large Proprietary Schools have been 

 projected, of which one is in process of erection, the other is already 

 built, and flourishing beyond our most sanguine expectation. Doubt- 

 less these large establishments will not only send forth many young 

 candidates for admission to our Society, richly imbued with classic 

 lore and mathematical science, but one of them has already brought 

 within our circle men eminent for their attainments both in literature 

 and philosophy, two of whom, I rejoice to say, have already enrolled 

 themselves amongst us, and will doubtless prove themselves most 

 able and efficient members of our body. Under all these auspicious 

 circumstances, are we not justified in hailing the approach of a far 

 brighter day than has ever yet dawned upon us ? or rather, may we 

 not turn our hopes for the future into exultation at the past, and 

 congratulate ourselves on the light of taste and intellect so recently 

 diffused through this town and neighbourhood, by the Essays that 

 have been read in this Society, and of which those that have been 

 given to the public, have been welcomed with the warmest approba- 

 tion. 



2. The other peculiar benefit likely to be derived from the estab- 

 lishment of this Society, is the extension of a more friendly feeling 

 among all classes and sects, who at present have no common bond of 

 firm union, but are too much separated from each other both by poli- 

 tical and religious differences. It is our happiness to live in a land, 



