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On the Opportunities 



kind, would be an important matter for after consideration. I have 

 said enough, however, to bring the matter fairly before you, and in 

 your hands I now leave it, hoping it may not be permitted to fall to 

 the ground, but may be taken up by the influential members of the 

 Association, connected either with Science or with commerce, my own 

 humble co-operation being always at their service. 



This paper would be very incomplete without some notice of the 

 important steps which have been taken since it was read to the British 

 Association, on the 7th of September last. On that occasion consider- 

 able discussion was elicited, in which the President of the Section 

 (Professor Babington, M.A., F.R.S.), Dr. Lankester, F.R.S., Professor 

 Williamson, F.R.S., Mr. John Lubbock, F.R.S., Mr. J. A. Turner, M.P., 

 Rev. H. H. Higgins, M.A., R. Patterson, F.R.S., and others, took part ; 

 all agreeing in their estimate of the importance of the subject, and the 

 great and beneficial results likely to accrue from a well-elaborated 

 plan of operation. Subsequently, in the committee room, the subject 

 was again brought forward by Dr. Lankester, and a committee was 

 appointed to report upon the best mode of carrying out the scheme, 

 of which the writer was requested to take the direction. This com- 

 mittee consists of the following gentlemen : — Dr. Collingwood, M.A., 

 F.L.S., Liverpool, R. Patterson, F.R.S., Belfast, John Lubbock, F.R.S., 

 F.L.S., London, James Aspinall Turner, M.P., Manchester, P. P. Car- 

 penter, Ph. D., Warrington, and the Rev. H. H. Higgins, M.A., Liver- 

 pool. 



It was further recommended that the paper be printed and circulated 

 among those interested in shipping. 



Believing that much might be done by associating merchant officers 

 with existing scientific societies in an honorary manner, the writer, as 

 Secretary to the Literary and Philosophical Society of Liverpool, 

 brought the matter before the members. This society was established 

 in 1812, and is about, during the next month (February), to celebrate 

 its fiftieth anniversary. An addition to the laws was duly passed and 

 confirmed to the effect that the society be " empowered to elect as 

 Associates masters of vessels or others engaged in marine pursuits who 

 may have peculiar facilities for adding to the scientific interest of the 

 Society's proceedings, such Associates to be in every case recommended 

 by the council and to have the same privileges as Honorary Members, 

 their number to be at present limited to twenty- five." This plan, there 

 is little doubt, may be productive of much good, and it is to be hoped 

 will be adopted by other societies. One very large and popular society 



