5 
explicit answer to their application as soon as he can 
without interruption of his present important engagements 
pay attention to it.” 
“Committee of papers, April 18th, 1785. Eesolved unani- 
mously that the respectful acknowledgements of the Literary 
and Philosophical Society be returned to the Eight Hon. 
William Pitt for the attention with which he has honoured 
their commission and for the very obliging terms in which 
he has signified His Majesty’s gracious consent to patronise 
their intended publication.” 
“ May 11th, 1785. Eesolved that the volume now printed 
be inscribed to the king not dedicated.” 
The distribution of the first volume is recorded in the 
following minute: “October 9th, 1785. Eesolved that one 
copy of the Memoirs of this society be presented as soon as 
printed, to each of the following personages and public 
libraries : To the King (to be presented by Mr. Pitt), ele- 
gantly bound. To the Eight Hon. William Pitt, elegantly 
bound. To every ordinary Member of the Society. To 
every honorary Member who shall have favoured the society 
with any literary communication or with any present of 
books, etc. To the Collegiate Library in Manchester. To 
the Eoyal Society at London. To the Eoyal Society at 
Edinburgh.” 
During the century which has elapsed the volumes of this 
Society have been enriched by the labours of many men of 
eminence, some of whose papers may well serve as landmarks 
to the historian of science curious to trace its progress out 
of the wilderness of error and the mazes of conjecture. The 
practical results of their labour will be acknowledged by all 
who have any knowledge of the improvements made in 
applied chemistry during the past centuiy. That the Society 
should remain as a garner for the fruits of a highly cultivated 
intelligence is of great importance to the continued welfare 
