8o THE ADDRESSES, LECTURES, ETC., OF 



penditure by more than 700. The Council considered therefore 

 that the time had arrived when, if approved by the members, steps 

 might be taken for erecting a suitable building. Preliminary 

 inquiries had been made respecting a site in the neighbourhood of 

 the present house of the Institution, and one which appeared 

 eligible having been offered, an approximate plan and estimate had 

 been prepared by the officers for a building sufficient for the present 

 requirements, the amount arrived at being about 12,000. This 

 expenditure would exceed the actual balance in hand by about 

 4,000, but it was thought that to this limited extent the surplus 

 income might be anticipated. It had been considered desirable 

 to take this early opportunity of giving the members information 

 regarding this important question ; but formal notice was proposed 

 to be given at the next meeting of its being brought forward for 

 discussion at the anniversary meeting in January next. 



The PRESIDENT further announced that a cordial invitation had 

 been received from the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society to 

 hold the annual meeting of the Institution next summer in 

 Cornwall ; and the Council of the Institution had accepted the 

 invitation, considering it a very desirable one, as Cornwall was a 

 district which had not been visited before, and presented so many 

 objects of interest for the members of the Institution. 



He stated also that a letter had been received from the Eoyal 

 Commission of the International Exhibition to be held in Vienna 

 next year, inviting the members of the Institution to aid in pro- 

 moting a complete representation of British machinery on that 

 occasion ; and he had much pleasure in commending the subject 

 to their attention, and hoped all the members who were able would 

 assist in furthering this object. 



The PRESIDENT continued as follows : 



In consequence of the very courteous invitation which our In- 

 stitution received last year, we are now assembled in this great 

 town of Liverpool, to discuss with our Lancashire brethren ques- 

 tions of considerable scientific and practical interest. Considering 

 that only two years have elapsed since Liverpool opened its 

 spacious halls to the British Association, the invitation given to 

 our Institution to hold here our general meeting for the current 

 year speaks well for the scientific interest astir in this community, 



