354 Literary and Philosophical Society. 



lops a valuable variation of study, the reason for its 

 existence ceases. To some extent it has done, and we 

 watch its progress. 



In Scotland, where there have been five universities 

 to a population the seventh part of England, there has 

 been, without deep learning, an effect of education on the 

 people such as has not been found in England in wealthy 

 counties, and a scattered and poor population (at least 

 poor till lately) has done more than its share of the 

 world's work. Much of this is to be attributed to the 

 emulation caused by numerous and endowed universi- 

 ties ; a difference amongst the youth in Manchester has 

 been observed by the writer since Owens College was 

 founded. The full-grown generation is also affected. 



This Society acted as the only centre of scientific 

 thought for many years in the district, and much of the 

 influence of a university must be attributed to it. Still 

 we must remember that it is not our province to teach 

 youth, it is for us to receive amongst us those who have 

 already learned ; we must judge of their labours, and give 

 these labours in a fitting form to the world that it may 

 benefit by them. This has been the aim as well as the 

 habit of the Society, and this must continue. It would be 

 well if we could give also aid to those who show them- 

 selves fit to discover : not stimulating research by reward, 

 merely to help to make it a trade as seems to be often 

 the sole wish, but assisting those whose minds naturally 

 lead them to research in directions valuable to the world, 

 although not immediately if at all profitable. 



The inclination to seek the greatest centre arises in 

 most cases from an excusable love of fame, but chiefly 

 from a haste to be famous. True fame always finds the 



