Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Ixii. (19 17) 5 



Paris, 29th July, 1784,, an which he describfes a visit he paid 

 to the subterraneous caverns at Paris, commonly called " The 

 Quarries," which, according to his description, appeared like an 

 underground city, the streets being formed by the removal of 

 rock in long lines. The istpne for building overhead was re- 

 moved to a depth' of 360 fleet anidj fjor ablout two miles. These 

 quarries were kept secret in Paris. They were commenced by 

 Louis XIV. in 1667. Mr. Thomias Whijte says all the Faubourg 

 St. Jacques, Rue de la, Harpe, and Rue de Tournon stand over 

 these ancient quarries, supported by pillars and arches, and on 

 occasions some parts oif the surface have collapsed. 



I may allude in passing .to other members of this Society. 

 The Rev. Dr. Thomas Barnes, F.R.S., elected 1781, Minister of 

 the Unitarian iChapel in Cross Street for 31 (years, succeeded -by 

 the Rev. John Robberids-, leiec'ted a member in 181 1, who was 

 succeeded by (he Rev. William Gaskell, elected 1840, better 

 known perhaps as the husband of Mrs. Gaskell. <, 



The Rev. George Walker, F.R.S;., elected 1782, followed 

 Dr. Percival as Pre'sTMenit in 1805. Hie was Mathematical 

 Teacher at the Warrington Academy in 1772, and subsequently 

 teacher of mathematics at Durham, at a salary of little more 

 than ,£40 a year, which owing to the poverty of the institution 

 was not paid in full. 



Thomas Walker, .elected 1790, was President of the (Man- 

 chester Constitutional Society. He, in that capacity, communi- 

 cated with the Patriotic Societies in France for establishing 

 correspondence With 'the Manchester Society for the good of 

 humanity. These /proceedings attracted the attention of Mr. 

 Burke, who, in his speech! in the House of Commons, April 30th, 

 1792, denounced Thomas Cooper and Thomas Walker as con- 

 sorting with (traitors and regicides in the Club' of the Jacobins 

 in Paris. Walker's house] in South Parade, jSt. Mary's Parsonage, 

 was attacked Iby the mob and he fired ion them. He was tried 

 with others iat Lancaster ojn a charge of having conspired/" (to 

 overthrow the Constitutiop and assist the French in their 

 threatened attack on this 1 isl/and. He was acquitted, and trium- 

 phantly returned to Manchester on the 3rd March, 1794. 



Mr. Hutchinson, elected 1801, was Dock-master at Liverpool, 

 and wrote chiefly on meteorological subjects. 



tOne of his papers is entitled " Meteorological Observations 

 from 1768 to 1793." 



John Dalton, elected 1794, was President of the Society from 

 181 7 till 1844, during 27 years. In 1795 comes his first paper, 

 "An Essay on the \Visiom of Colours." Then follow papers on 



