'793* literary society, Newcasik. jy 



to lend every afsistance in their power to promote the 

 establiftiment and prosperity of such societies. 



The objects intended to be attained by this society are 

 so interesting, and they are so clearly explained in the 

 following well digested plan of it, which has been trans- 

 mitted to the Editor, that he thinks he will do his read- 

 ers in general a pleasure by submitting it to their perusal, 

 without abridegment or mutilation of any sort. 



Plan of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle 

 upon Tyne. 



Quemadmodum enim aqua, sive ex coelesti tore descendens, sive ex 

 fontibus scaturiens, facile disperditur, nisi coUigatur in aliquarecep- 

 tacula, ubi per unionem et congregationem se sustentare et fovere 

 pofsit, similiter liquor iste scientise pretiosifsimus mox periret om- 

 Tiis et evanesceret, nisi conservaretur in libris, tradicionibus, coUo- 

 quiis, ac prascipue in locis certis his rebus destinatis. 



Bacon. 

 Prefatory observations on the propriety of establijhing a Li- 

 terary Society in Newcastle ; and on the objects which 

 will naturally claim the attention of its members. 

 ", Among the various causes of the rapid advancement 

 of science, which has taken place in modern times, the in- 

 stitution of Philosophical Societies is one of the most ob- 

 vious and important. Men by their united labours ac- 

 complilh undertakings far superior to the efforts of indi- 

 vidual strength ; and this is particularly the case with in- 

 tellectual pursuits. " Knowledge, lilve fire, is brought 

 forth by collision j" and in the free conversations of afso- 

 ciatcd friends, many lights have been struck out, and ser- 

 ved as hints for the most important discoveries, which 

 would not, probably, have occurred to their authors, in the 

 retirements of private meditation. Societies of this na- 

 ture have, besides, been instrumental to draw forth those 

 talents, which would othenvise have been buried ia ob- 



