1 66 Literary and Philosophical Society. 



siderable success. During the two last winters, lectures 

 have been delivered in different branches of science to 

 numbers of gentlemen, who have thus given the most re- 

 spectable sanction to the undertaking. And it may be 

 added, that the gentlemen engaged in the office of prae- 

 lectors, animated with the encouragement they have already 

 received, hope to pursue their important object with vigour 

 and perseverance, not doubting but that they shall continue 

 to enjoy the patronage and support of the friends of science 

 and of virtue.' 



However, the spirit of Manchester was too strong, and 

 the Literary and Philosophical Society was aiming at more 

 than the working city could accomplish, or at least was 

 willing to accomplish. 



Dr. Barnes * seems to have been a wide-minded man, and 

 to have had a clear vision of the importance of science, as 

 well as the cultivation of the arts which made Manchester 

 important. We see this from the paper he read (Jan 9, 

 1782), 'On the affinity subsisting between the arts, with a 

 plan for graduating and extending manufactures, by en- 

 couraging those arts on which manufactures principally 

 depend.' This plan consists in forming an institution 

 devoted principally to chemistry and mechanics, but con- 

 nected also with a museum. An account of this is better 

 in his own words. 



Dr. Barnes may be said to have followed on Mr. 

 Henry's ideas, and developed plans still more practical. 

 It would have been well if Manchester had taken the advice 

 thus early given ; then the museum, with its collections of 

 work and patterns, would have formed of itself a fine history 

 of the town and all its labours. He writes : 



' See vol. i. p. 84, Dr. Barnes. 



