ON POPULAR SCIENCE LECTURES. 343 



hall. To-day the Liverpool Public Library, Museum, and Arts Com- 

 mittee possess two lecture-halls, the one above referred to, and the 

 Picton Lecture Hall (opened 1882), capable of seating 1,200 people, 

 and both are used in connection with the lecture-work of the institutions. 



In the year 1861 there was founded the Liverpool School of Science, 

 to ' promote a knowledge of Science and Art and the application thereof 

 to the various industries.' The school was successfully conducted in 

 the lecture and class rooms in the new Public Library and Museum 

 building, but as time passed a want was felt of popular lectures to 

 supplement the instruction given in the school. These the Committee 

 of the School of Science could arrange, but could not afford to pay 

 for ; consequently, in the year 1865, the Committee of the Public Library 

 and Museum were approached to undertake the work. The Library 

 Committee considered that the suggestion came within the scope of their 

 commission, and arranged for four courses of ten lectures on each of 

 the following subjects : Geology, Chemistry, Geometry, and Natural 

 Philosophy. Admission to the lectures was, of course, free, and the 

 attendances numbered 2,666. The total cost was lOOL 



This was regarded as a success from the Library Committee's point 

 of view, and ' confirmed the Committee of the School of Science in the 

 opinion which they entertained : that, whilst there is a fair demand 

 for scientific instruction in Liverpool, the class which seeks such in- 

 struction is unable to pay much for it. ' But it also had to be reported 

 that ' the attendance at the lectui'es of the School of Science had 

 farther diminished in consequence of the opening of the free lectures.' 

 The Committee of the School of Science considered that the continuance 

 of a double course of lectures alike in aim and character might prove 

 injurious to both, and recommended that ' only one suital)le programme 

 of scientific lectures should be issued for the future and that that should 

 emanate from the Library and Museum Committee.' This recom- 

 mendation was adopted, and since the year 1865 Liverpool has never 

 been without its annual series of Corporation free lectures. 



The Liverpool Corporation free lectures as organised to-day have 

 been subjected to the criticism that through being single lectures on 

 many subjects they are less effective from an educational standpoint 

 than they would be if divided into courses of lectures on fewer subjects. 

 In view of this criticism it will be interesting, and may be useful, to 

 trace the developments of our lectures from 1865 to 1896, when the 

 present system was adopted. 



As already stated, the first series of lectures in 1865 consisted of 

 40 lectures divided into 4 courses of 10 lectures each, and were on 

 strictly scientific subjects. During the succeeding 9 years, courses of 

 lectures in Literature and Art as well as Science were continued, the 

 number of lectures in the courses varying from 12 to 2. In 1875 40 

 lectures were given, of which 5 were single lectures and the remainder 

 short courses varying in number but not exceeding 6 lectures in one 

 course. 



In 1878 there were 41 lectures divided into 1 course of 3 lectures, 

 10 courses of 2 each, and 18 single lectures. In 1865 there were 40 

 lectures and 4 lecturers; in 1875 40 lectures and 14 lecturers, while 



