FROM THE COUNCIL CH AMBER. 



To the Members and Friends of the Burnley Literary and Philo- 

 sophical Society. — After much consideration the Committee beg to make an 

 appeal to the members and friends of the Society on behalf of the funds, and 

 in doing so would venture to point out that the time has now arrived when 

 an effort should be made to clear off all the liabilities of the Society. The 

 sum needed is about ^120, and the raising of this sum would enable the Com- 

 mittee not only to place the Society on a sound financial basis, but also to 

 classify, arrange and catalogue the collection which has been gathered together. 



It will be remembered that the Society held its earlier meetings in Mr. 

 Joseph Thornton's Restaurant, Bridge Street. Afterwards a few meetings 

 were held in Mr. Berry's rooms, St. James's Row. Then a room was taken 

 near Scar House, upon which a considerable amount was spent before a 

 meeting could be held there. Even then it was not waterproof, and in little time 

 was added to this disadvantage, an attack of dryrot, which affected the floor and 

 other woodwork, and led to more expenditure. Finally Scar House itself 

 was taken, and here again considerable expense was incurred in adaptin^r it 

 for the Society's meetings and in furnishing and making a rough and ready 

 arrangement for the care and display of our geological and other specimens. 

 In this direction much yet remains to be done, and the Committee feel that 

 this work must be proceeded with in order that the collection may be made 

 really useful to all members and friends who are interested in the scientific 

 or historical aspects of our own district. The Committee therefore confidently 

 appeal then to all members and friends to assist them in raising the necessary 

 funds to place the society in such a position as will enable it to be really and 

 constantly useful to all who are interested in literature or science — whether 

 they be members or not. 



Again it has to be remembered that the necessary ordinary yearly 

 expenditure amounts to about ;£s°> ^"d this has to be raised before anything 

 can be done towards the clearing off of those liabilities which were incurred 

 by furnishing and alterations. This is not the place to speak of the generous 

 help which the members have in the past extended towards the Society. That 

 is a chapter in itself, and can be spoken of afterwards. At present there is 

 pressing need to make a beginning towards raising this sum of ;^ 120. Some 

 subscriptions have already been paid towards what is required, and the Com- 

 mittee will be glad to jeceive sums — however small — for the same object. 

 Payment need not be %iade all at once or immediately. Prorffises to pay 

 during the year 1900 will be most welcome, and in the meantime a collector 

 has been appointed who will collect outstanding subscriptions and donations, 

 or they may be paid to the Hon. Sec. at the rooms any evening. The collector 

 for the Society is Mr. W. Evans, Outwood Grove, Todmorden Road. 



Subscriptions towards fund of ^120: — Joseph Thornton ^4 5s.; 

 John Allen ;^2 2s; William Aspinall 10/-; Lawrence Heap 10/-; Matthew 

 Sharpe 10/-; J. W. Eastwood 10/-; Albert Holden 10/-; W. B. Potter 5/-; 

 Peter Pollard 5/- ; William Parker 5/- ; J. C. Skipper 2/6 ; Philip Green 2/6; 

 F. Butterfield 2/6. 



TEA= PARTY. — On Saturday next Mr. John Dean will provide tea 

 for members at 5 o'clock in the Society's rooms. Tickets i/- each. Proceeds for 

 the funds of the Society. Concert at 7-30. 



The Committee and members heard with deep regret of the death of 

 Mr. Stocks Austerberry, one of our earliest members, and one endeared to us 

 by his talents and goodness. The Society was represented at the funeral by 

 the Secretary and several members, and a wreath was also sent. The sympathy 

 of all will be extended to Mrs. Austerberry and family in the loss which they 

 have sustained, and in which we to a certain extent share. 



Last Saturday, Messrs. Heap, C. R. Ritchings, S. Simpson, and H. 

 Charles, of our own Society, and Messrs. Eastwood and Harper, of the 

 Accrington Naturalists' Society, gave us an evening with the Microscope, 

 which was much appreciated by those who attended. There is much room 

 in Burnley for Microscopic work, and it is to be hoped that this branch 

 of work will be continued by our members. 



In future there will be a Meeting in the large room each Saturday 

 evening ; members are strongly invited to attend. 



WEDNESDAY, FEB. 7th.— The Committee also beg to draw 

 the Members' attentjotrT:J77ttt^list of Lectures and Papers during February, 

 the first of whicb„.>v|y bS^ ^^rMr. John Heaton, Member of the Burnley 

 Board of ■Cusird\in^.^^}^j^Q^[^''Y^^^ 



