34^ Literary and Philosophical Society, 



diminish to the utmost the centraHsation of mental activity, 

 unless when necessary to raise a series of batteries to 

 attack some very strong position where ignorance reigns. 

 It is remarkable how many towns in France have valuable 

 societies, notwithstanding many evils connected with cen- 

 tralisation there, and in this respect she has given a good 

 example. This may appear in contradiction to another 

 opinion given, but this is not the place to reconcile the two, 

 even if success were certain. 



The number of literary and scientific men is increasing 

 here, and they are beginning to publish their results in 

 separate Societies.^ Probably we have lost by want of 

 sympathy, and allowed the forces to be too much scattered ; 

 but good is doing, and our aim is to receive only the more 

 original portion of scientific work and such literary memoirs 

 as may be considered in the character of investigations. 

 This has not been defined by the rules, but it follows from 



^ James Young, LL.D., F.R.S., who was a member of the Society when 

 he lived in Manchester about thirty years ago, wished to have a chemical 

 society, and brought together about thirty young men connected with works ; 

 they, or at least some of them, met in summer in country places, had tea at an 

 inn generally, and held their meetings at the tea-table. Some of the meetings 

 were very pleasant. It was afterwards connected with the Lit. and Phil. 

 wSociety itself, forming the first section ; the addition of several sections took 

 place afterwards. The writer of this was secretary, but he found it difficult 

 in those days to gain attendance, and papers were too few. He at last gave 

 up calling the meetings. The most of the members were chemists in works. 

 Mr. Young began another movement in Manchester. He wished to have a 

 Liberal paper, not considering the Guardian sufficiently so. Talking with 

 the present writer both agreed that the editor should be Thomas Ballantyne, 

 and that it should be called the Examiner. Mr. Ballantyne obtained other 

 men, who do not seem to have been told of Mr. Young's idea. Mr. Ballantyne 

 left the paper soon, and never succeeded. He was a remarkable man, capable 

 of speaking many leading articles in an evening — articles too of great power 

 — but he had apparently little power of writing them out in such a way as 

 to attract the public. At any rate he did not please his friends, and cir- 

 cumstances were against him in after life. 



