PREFACE, 



The causes that led the Literary Society to suspend 

 the publication of their Journal will be found in the 

 summary of their proceedings appended to this No. 

 The difficulties being simply of a financial nature, 

 the resolution did not require the work to be 

 entirely abandoned but contemplated its continuation 

 in a modified form to serve as a means of preserving- 

 information possessed of local value, which but for 

 such a receptacle would be lost or neglected. For 

 some time however few or no contributions were receiv- 

 ed by the Committee from the idea probably that the 

 Journal had ceased to exist. It was therefore deter- 

 mined to issue a Circular for the purpose of removing 

 any such misconception, and accordingly ?n June last 

 a communication was addressed by'the Secretary to 

 all the principal stations, notifying the Society's rea- 

 diness to continue the publication of such original 

 items of information as the Committee of papers might 

 select for the purpose. 



The present No. is composed of some of the com- 

 munications received in consequence. 



The Committee of the Literary Society do not 

 intend to charge themselves with the duty or respon- 

 sibility of Editors, nor do they bind themselves to col- 

 lect and prepare matter for publication at stated in- 

 tervals. Their object is confined to the reception 

 and examination of original papers which the authors 

 may not wish to put forward in a more ambitious 

 shape. The Committee desire particularly to direct 



