164 
Society, have rarely been equalled. In his hands the Society’s 
library has become one of the most valuable libraries of 
reference in the kingdom ; and before his death he had suc- 
ceeded in establishing a system of exchange of publications 
with nearly all the leading home and foreign literary and 
scientific societies. He took a very prominent part in the 
framing of the new code of rules passed by the Society on 
the 22nd of January, 1861 ; and his unwearied exertions and 
influence, and the valuable assistance he was ever ready to 
render to members or others engaged in original researches, 
contributed materially to raise the Society to its present high 
position. 
Mr. John Atkinson, F.G.S., had been a member of the 
Society for many years, and was a constant attendant at its 
meetings, to which he made frequent communications. 
During late years he supplied the Society with his meteoro- 
logical observations made at Thelwall, and which were 
printed in our proceedings. He was for several years the 
active Secretary of the Manchester Geological Society, to 
which he contributed several papers published in its memoirs. 
Mr. Thomas Hopkins was one of the oldest members of the 
Society, having been elected on the 18th of April, 1823. He 
was for many years a very active and efficient member of the 
Council, and was for some time one of the Society’s Vice- 
Presidents. He contributed several valuable papers on 
meteorological subjects to the Society’s memoirs, and was 
the author of a work on 44 Atmospherical Changes. ’’ 
In accordance with the resolution passed at a meeting of 
the Society held on 12th January, 1864, the Council procured 
dies for a medal, and six copies of the medal in bronze ; and 
appointed a committee to consider and report upon a scheme 
for regulating the selection of subjects and services for which 
a medal should be awarded. Owing, however, to the import- 
ance of the questions which have been brought under their 
notice, and the necessity of giving them careful and mature 
