LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
269 
activity.” It does appear to me that this feature of our Association is a most important 
one. We meet from time to time to develope hidden capabilities, to augment each 
other’s stores of knowledge, for mutual encouragement and help—to elevate and be 
elevated. I do not think, of course, that our resources should be overstrained, but rather 
tested ; and relieved and fostered by occasional foreign aid ; while I do believe that it is 
wisest and best to exert ourselves for health’s and strength’s sake. I need hardly remind 
you how largely we are indebted to our distinguished friend Dr. Edwards, for the kind 
manner in which he has repeatedly come forward, at almost a moment’s notice, to occupy 
the evening. And how invariably he is able, from his ample stores of knowledge, to 
instruct and delight us,—and this, too, not with old and trite discussions, but with all 
that is advanced in science and speculation in the great world of thinkers and workers 
in which he moves. His aid we may well be proud of, and I can scarcely over-state 
its value to our Society, which in him seems linked with the great minds and institu¬ 
tions of the metropolis, so constantly is he mingling with them and passing to and fro, 
like his own electric discharges, giving brilliancy to both poles. I cannot forget, too, 
the very great pleasure and information derived from the lecture of our esteemed Vice- 
President, Mr. Mercer, on “Nitrate of Potassa and the Nitrates.” In him we have a staunch 
and able supporter of this Association whom we may well be proud of. His adminis¬ 
tration as Secretary will live in the memory of most, as the halcyon golden age of our 
associated life; and whenever he can be induced, or is able to undertake to occupy an 
evening, every member of this Association would do well to be on the benches, if he 
wishes not to lose a rich feast of knowledge. I regret much to be the cause of post¬ 
poning his presidency for another year. We have also been much indebted to our friend 
and ready ally, Mr. Davis, for several interesting and valuable communications on the 
“Chemistry of Digestion,” and on “Carbolic Acid.” In this quarter we may look with con¬ 
fidence for further assistance. Mr. H. S. Evans, Mr. Murphy, and Mr. Tate and others, 
have read or contributed papers, and I must not forget to mention one paper in which 
I feel special interest. I refer to that on “Chemical Method,” by Mr. J. F. Brown, 
lately residing with me. That paper was his maiden effort, and elicited very warm 
commendation from gentlemen competent to form a judgment on a subject somewhat 
abstruse and foreign to many of us. His success on that occasion forms a most encou¬ 
raging example for our younger members, and I shall, if possible, take an opportunity 
before I close of referring to the subject again. 
At the risk of being tedious, I must not omit from this hasty review of the session, to 
call up for a moment to your remembrance the last interesting and successful conversa¬ 
zione held in this building. On that occasion we had the presence of a distinguished 
chemist among us, Mr. William Crookes, whose name is so well known in the scientific 
world, and will be handed down to posterity, as the discoverer of Thallium. His audi¬ 
ence was large and select, and in the course of a most interesting lecture were astonished 
and delighted with an opportunity of viewing the brilliant combustion of magnesium 
wire side by side with the lime and electric lights. 
Dr. Edwards, as usual, was at no loss to bnng forward on that occasion much that 
w r as novel and beautiful. Other gentlemen, too, gave us hearty assistance with contri¬ 
butions which were more or less scientific in their character and a source of much plea¬ 
sure to investigate. 
Mr. Crookes’s visit, I think, was a gratification to us all, and contributed in no small 
degree to render the conversazione a great success, and to confirm the public opinion of 
the attractive nature of these scientific nodes , which we may now regard as an in¬ 
stitution well appreciated and regularly expected. 
The amount of good done by these pleasant gatherings is not to be gauged by the 
precise number of scientific facts or principles that may be understood at the time or 
remembered afterwards. Possibly by such a standard the maximum result attained 
might not be greatly plus—hardly a minus however. Though many persons did in a 
week’s time sadly jumble their ideas upon the subjects treated of, yet we should rather 
look at the general stimulus which contact with new truths and the Wonderful dis¬ 
coveries of science must surely give to all attentive minds. Inquiry is awakened, leading 
afterwards to more certain and definite knowledge; new ideas and impressions, and 
maturer views are gained of subjects partially known before, and so the mind is re¬ 
freshed, the intellect strengthened, and the man as a whole is elevated to a higher and 
more commanding status. We, as a society, and the public too, are greatly indebted to 
