90 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
the Institute holds out equally useful opportunities, in bringing science 
within the means of the class of artisans and others almost for whose especial 
benefit and improvement the Institute arose. This class of students in 
natural and other sciences is far too small, but it is firmly believed that 
ultimately the number must increase. The existence in some towns, as 
Manchester, of a large class of artisans and others who take delight and have 
skill in natural science, especially botany, shows that this branch of natural 
history is susceptible of being made useful and popular. 
“ It cannot be said that Birmingham artisans have less capacity than a 
similar class in other towns, and therefore it is hoped and believed that 
ultimately this class of persons will gradually be found to acquire tastes of a 
more elevated and classical kind than at the present time.” 
Of course Birmingham artisans are not deficient in capacity ; but perhaps 
they may not possess the same facilities for indulging in intellectual tastes 
as are presented to the humbler classes in other towns. Is there a Field 
Club in connexion with the botanical class of the Midland Institute, enabling 
tire students to watch Nature in the free exercise of her functions ; or arc 
their observations confined to the traces of her handiwork as exhibited in 
the inanimate objects of the museum ? 
The scope of this Institution is perhaps the most extensive of any of its 
kind that has come under our notice. Besides numerous courses of lectures, 
delivered in some cases by men of the highest scientific attainments, there 
are classes in geometry, English history and literature, algebra (2), advanced 
and elementary arithmetic, writing, French, English grammar, composition (2), 
chemistry (several), botany, experimental physics, and the penny lectures 
and peimy readings, both of ivhich are better attended than all the rest of the 
classes together (excluding that in elementary arithmetic, which is numerously 
attended). There are also a museum, library, and the other adjuncts to such 
an establishment. We do not, however, see any mention made of classes in 
zoology, geology, mineralogy, &c., for which there must be great scope in 
such an important town as Birmingham. 
In striking contrast with the proceedings of the Institution just named, 
we have those of the “ Yorkshire Philosophical Society,” whose opera- 
tions are carried on in the city of York. Favoured with one of the most 
perfect museums in the world, under the guardianship of seven curators, 
each superintending his own department of science, with an excellent 
observatory, under the care of a committee of six gentlemen ; and, with 
every advantage that wealth affords, this society maintains a high position 
amongst those of Great Britain. The lectures delivered during the last session, 
as well as the “ Communications to the monthly meetings,” were various and 
interesting. Amongst the latter are many of general interest, and one or 
two extracts from the Report will, we think, please our readers better than 
any further comments of our own. 
A Paper on “ Aluminium,” by W. Proctor, Esq., F.C.S. (read March 5th). 
“ He traced the history of the discovery of Aluminium from the time of 
Davy to that of Wohler and Deville, who first obtained it in any quantity, 
and described the process adopted by the latter chemist for procuring Alumi- 
nium by the decomposition of its chloride by metallic sodium. Certain 
difficulties attendant on this process led Dr. Percy to suggest the mineral 
called Cryolite, a fluoride of aluminium and sodium, as a source of aluminium. 
