180 
June 28, 1848. My Dear Sir, — I cannot "resist the tempta- 
tion to congratulate you on your election to the Presidency 
of the Manchester Philosophical Society. I think the mem- 
bers have used a sound discretion in the selection, and I am 
heartily glad, after all our squabbles, to find you in a position 
to which you are justly entitled. I am yours faithfully, 
W. Fairbairn. To Eaton Hodgkinson, Esq.” 
The bust forms a companion to one of another distinguished 
member of this Society, the late Dr. William Henry, F.R.S., 
and both as a likeness and a work of art does the sculptor 
credit. 
On the motion of Mr. Spence; seconded by Dr. R. Angus 
Smith, it was resolved unanimously : — “ That the thanks of 
the Society be given to the donors of the bust of the late 
Professor Eaton Hodgkinson, F.R.S.” 
Mr. Spence brought under the notice of the^oeiety a 
ball of the dried leaves and stems of a plant imported from 
the West Coast of Africa, in the Kingdom of Dahomey. 
This plant, which grows spontaneously in great abundance, 
is used by the natives in dying cloth, to which it is said to 
give a good but not very permanent blue colour. 
The parties who have imported these leaves are Messrs. 
Burnet and Thwaites, of Manchester, and they state that 
two years ago the sample had been examined without any 
result. About two months ago, Mr. Spence gave Dr. E. 
Schunck, F.R.S. , a portion of them, he kindly undertaking 
to see whether they contained indigo. Circumstances pre- 
vented Dr. Schunck, until very lately, from entering upon 
the investigation, and the importers being anxious as to the 
matter, Mr. Spence, assisted by Mr. Bottomley, undertook 
the investigation, and at once found that the plant contained 
indigo perfectly formed, and which was easily extracted by 
the usual modes of deoxidisation and solution, the indigo 
being then precipitated pure and of a beautiful deep coppery 
