66 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. ['^lo^rnTjanSfl^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
Soiree of the Eeading Microscopical Society. 
On tlie 15tli of October the members of this Society, which is now 
in its eighth year of existence, gave their fourth soiree in the spacious 
and handsome town-hall. 
On this occasion some thirty microscopes belonging to the members 
were placed on tables down each side of the hall, leaving ample space 
for the company in the centre of the really noble room. Though 
nothing very novel was exhibited, the objects were generally well 
selected and of an interesting character, and many of them, prepared 
by the members themselves, were, to say the least of it, equal to those 
of the best professional mounters. Mr. Baker, of High Holborn, also 
sent down a collection of fine instruments, which were most ably and 
courteously exhibited by Mr. Curteis, who had come down for the 
occasion. Mr. Curteis exhibited a beautiful set of micro-photographs, 
including those of our own countryman. Dr. Maddox, and those rarer 
and less-known American ones, done under the auspices of the War 
Department of that Government, showing the podura scale and the 
various pleurosigmaB as they appear under the 60th objective and 
amplifier ; but perhaps, as specimens of local talent, the beautiful 
drawings of Messrs. Tatem and Clayton were the gems of the Exhibition. 
The delineations of infusorial life by the former gentleman were 
perfect of their kind, whilst Mr. Clayton's entomostraca, &c., allowing 
more scope for artistic treatment and colouring, formed perhaps the 
greatest attraction in the room. This gentleman also showed some 
entomostraca mounted in a particular medium of his own, in which 
they appeared to great advantage. 
In the course of the evening the President, Capt. Lang, at the 
request of the visitors, made a few extempore observations. Eemark- 
ing that an address formed no part of the programme of the evening, 
he called attention to the fine collection of instruments sent down by 
Mr. Baker, and to the objects so well shown under them by Mr. Curteis. 
He excused himself from making a long address, observing that 
microscopy is not a science in itself, but merely the handmaid of many 
sciences, and that a lecture on any special science would be out of 
place. Hoping that the number of working microscopists would 
increase in Eeading, he expressed his surprise that more ladies did not 
enter upon the study for which they were so peculiarly adapted, as 
their delicate fairy-like fingers were exactly suited to the manipulation 
of both instruments and objects, whilst the pursuit would give a fresh 
interest to their country walks in the collection of objects ; and he 
ended his appeal to them by pointing out how in the observation of 
the delicate tracery and beautiful patterns of minute organisms, only 
visible under the microscope, they would be constantly obtaining fresh 
and invaluable hints for their crotchet and embroidery work. 
The company, after spending a pleasant evening, and partaking of 
the refreshments provided for them in the Council Chamber, separated 
about half-past ten o'clock. 
