London Mechanics' Institution. 309 



A specimen of a fungus gathered from the beech-tree was laid 

 upon the Library table. The whole of its upper surface was cover- 

 ed by an exudation of fine resin, forming an uniform coat over it. 

 Books presented to the Institution, and works in the press, were also 

 laid upon the table. 



Feb. 16.— Mr. Brande gave an account from the Lecture table 

 of the method of manufacturing dies for coining, including an ac- 

 count of the mode and of the circumstances connected with the 

 striking of coin and medals. The nature of the steel required for 

 the dic^was first considered, and tliat stated to be the best, as far as 

 the experience of the speaker vvent, which was least acted upon by 

 dilute sulphuric acid : and the manner in which it was forged, soft- 

 ened, and prepared for the artist, was then described ; the progress 

 of his work illustrated by numerous specimens, and the way in 

 which the first piece of art, or the matrix, was made to produce 

 punches, and these again dies to be used for striking the pieces of me- 

 tal or blanks, fully explained. I'he hardening of the die, the guard- 

 inc it by a ring of iron, the work it could perform in the comnig- 

 presses, the destruction of dies at the Mint, the preparation of the 

 blanks, and the difference between striking coin and medals,— were 

 fully described ; as was also that curious operation of lettermg the 

 edges of the pieces. Many fine specimens of Mr. Wyon's workman- 

 ship were on the table. 



In the Library was exhibited a very fine specimen of that rare 

 bird Mclea<rris ocellata or Dindon (Eille. It was brought alive to this 

 country in''l8I4', from the Bay of Honduras ; but died soon after 

 its arrival, and has been very finely preserved. 



\ very large skull of a Walrus was also upon the table, with nu- 

 merous presents of books, rare works, and the publications of the 

 week. 



LONDON mechanics' INSTITUTION. 

 A quarterly general meeting of the members of this Institution 

 was held on the 7th of March, to receive the Committee's Report 

 of the proceedings of their auarter terminating on that day ; from 

 which it appeared that courses of lectures had been delivered by 

 Professor Millington, On the application of mathematical science 

 to mechanical subjects; by Mr. Cooper, On metallurgic chemistry, 

 which had occupied the Wednesday evenings : and that the Fri- 

 day evenings had been occupied by a variety of lectures on miscel- 

 laneous interesting subjects. 



It appears that the purposes for which this Institution was esta- 

 bli.^hed, are now in full operation, and carried on with much activity 

 and advantage to its members ; for, besides the lectures twice a 

 week, they have a Heading Room, and a Circulating Library, con- 

 taining nearly 3000 volumes, and classes for instruction in arith- 

 metic, mathematics, drawing, the English and French languages, 

 geograi)hy and writing ; and also weekly meetings for mutual in- 

 struction in mechanical philosophy and chemistry. 



It was announced at the close of the meeting that Professor 



Millington 



