361 



consideration if required, and to supply any further suggestions 

 which may appear likely to be useful. 



I have the honour to be, Sir, 



Your obedient Servant, 



W. SHARPEY, 



To the Secretary of the Lords of the Com- Sec. R.S. 



mittee of Privy Council for Trade. 



April 26, 1855. 



Sir BENJAMIN BRODIE, Bart., V.P., in the Chair. 

 Dr. Dickenson was admitted into the Society. 

 The following communications were read : 



I. A letter from EDWIN CANTON, Esq., accompanying the 

 collection of autograph letters to which it refers. Com- 

 municated by Professor STOKES, Sec. R.S. 



" 4 Montagu Street, Russell Square, 

 March 29, 1855. 



" DEAR SIR, Will you do me the favour of presenting to the 

 Royal Society, for their acceptance, the accompanying collection of 

 autograph letters from Franklin, Priestley, Sir J. Banks and others, 

 together with several documents which were formerly in the posses- 

 sion of my great-grandfather, John Canton, F.R.S. 



" The collection was given to me when a lad of about fourteen 

 years of age by my uncle (Mr. Nathaniel Canton), who resides in 

 the neighbourhood of Spital Square. It was received by him from 

 his father (Mr. William Canton), whose residence was the same as 

 that now occupied by his son. 



" I mention, particularly, the time when the letters came into my 

 possession in explanation of the circumstance of some of them being 

 wanting in address or superscription, for, being but a lad at the 



