xii Proceedings. > [April gth, 1918. 



against this is the fact that the specimen was comparatively brittle 

 and could be pounded to a rough powder in an iron mortar. In 

 the iron manufactured by natives the temperature obtainable by 

 them would not be sufficiently high to reduce silica to the form of 

 silicium, and the iron produced by them would be presumably any- 

 thing but brittle. On dissolving the metallic iron in hydrochloric 

 acid and treating the residue with caustic soda solution, hydrogen 

 was liberated showing that the silicium was there in the elementary 

 condition, which strengthens the assumption that this iron existed 

 as native metallic iron. 



Professor G. Elliot Smith, M.A., M.D., F.R.S., read a paper 

 on " Race, Character, and Nationality." 



Professor G. Elliot Smith stated that the influences of race 

 and heredity, geographical circumstances and language, though 

 potent in various directions to affect the character and achievements 

 of individuals and to play a part in the development of the true 

 spirit of nationality in a community, are not the chief factors. The 

 personal experience of each individual, his social environment and 

 especially the traditions of his community, shape his outlook on 

 life, determine his character and give specific directions to his in- 

 herited aptitudes. The most powerful forces that mould nation- 

 ality and weld together a heterogeneous collection of people of 

 varied origin, abilities and traditions, consist of historical circum- 

 stances, which provide the community with common aims and 

 aspirations, common traditions and social fashions') common trends 

 of thought and modes of behaviour. Such circumstances play a 

 more vital part than mere race or hereditary aptitudes in the de- 

 velopment of the spirit of nationality. 



Ordinary Meeting, April gth, 1918. 



The President, Mr. William Thomson, F.R.S.E., F.C.S., F.I C, 



in the Chair. 



The following resolution was passed unanimously: — "This 

 meeting of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society has 

 heard with concern that the War Office proposes to demolish the 

 two cottages by Stonehenge, which serve as the domiciles of the 

 custodian and the police constable charged with the safe-keeping 

 of the monument. As these are the only available cottages in the 

 neighbourhood, the Society feels that such action may be fraught 

 with perilous consequences and therefore begs leave to direct the 

 attention of the Secretary of State for War, to the urgent necessity 

 of taking adequate steps to protect this national monument from 

 injury or defacement." 



