228 CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



Mr. Roscoe was introduced at the evening meeting, the members rose to 

 receive him, and he signed the laws. 



Amongst the gentlemen known in literary and scientific circles, who have 

 since held office as presidents, we may mention Dr. Traill, J. B. Yates, F.S.A., 

 Dr. Booth, F.R.S.. Dr. Dickenson, F.R.S. The present occupier of the presiden- 

 tial chair, the Rev. H. H. Higgins, is most zealous in his encouragement of 

 science, being an active vice-president of the Naturalist's Field Club ; as is also 

 Dr. 0. Oollingwood, the - secretary of the Literary Society, — a gentleman well 

 known in the scientific world for his contributions to natural history. 



It is no wonder that a society which, as our readers will perceive, has acquired 

 more than a local reputation in the annals of science and literature, should seek 

 to give some eclat to the silver year of its existence ; and we find accordingly, 

 that under its auspices the town-hall of Liverpool was thronged on the 13th of 

 last month with a concourse of nearly 1,500 ladies and gentlemen. 



The " west drawing-room " was devoted to the exhibition of philosophical 

 instruments, electrical and other experiments, and telegraphic printing ; the 

 " east drawing-room " to books, autographs, and manuscripts; the most con- 

 spicuous of the last-named being one of Roscoe's, of the Life of Leo X. The 

 remaining saloons were devoted to the arts, to music, and painting ; and the 

 council-chamber, &c., to refreshments. 



The music consisted chiefly of part-songs, beautifully executed by the German 

 " Lieder Tafel." The paintings in oil and water-coloiirs, which were the pro- 

 perty of the merchants and gentry in and around Liverpool, were collected and 

 well hung under the superintendence of Arnold Baruchson, Esq., a patron of 

 art in the town. 



The Rev. President delivered a short address in one of the saloons during 

 the evening, in which he sketched the history ef the Society ; and his place was 

 then occupied by the only surviving founder present, the venerable and much- 

 esteemed William Rathbone, the friend of Roscoe, as well as of all that is good 

 and useful in Liverpool. He addressed those around him as his " children," 

 and called up old associations in the minds of many who had lived with him 

 when science was a heresy. After these addresses the concert followed, and 

 brought the proceedings of the evening to a close. 



Such meetings as this, and others, of which we hope to be able to record a 

 goodly and increasing number in each new issue, are calculated to place science 

 in its true light, not as a dry study, hemmed in by obstacles insurmountable by 

 the populace, but as one of the chief occupations that render life useful and 

 agreeable. 



CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



Session— 1861-62. 



FIFTH ORDINARY MEETING — 25th January, 1862. 



Hon. J. H. Hagartt, President, in the Chair. 



I. The Rev. Professor Hatch, M.A., read a paper entitled " The Physical 



Theory of Heracleitus." 



