LIVERPOOL CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
567 
the current of interest and curiosity set in towards Dr. J. B. Edwards, who was wedding- 
fun to philosophy in another large room, by blowing soap bubbles of varied design with 
Plateau’s glycerine solution. This exhibition was suggestive of youthful reminiscences; 
and, although the objects were transparently unsubstantial, yet they proved as lasting 
as some of the “ bubbles ” which modern enterprise sets afloat. One virtue attached to 
the Doctor’s bubbles, for when they they did burst they produced none of. the heart- 
scalds, undermined no cherished hopes, blighted no useful prospects, nor ruined the in¬ 
dustrious, economical, and striving, as those often do. 
At seven o’clock the gong summoned all to the theatre, or large hall, where the Pie- 
sident, Alfred Bedford, Esq., took the chair, and prefaced the programme for the 
evening with a few introductory remarks. He said it had always been the study of the 
Association, in providing an evening’s entertainment like the present, to blend pleasuie 
with instruction. The Association invited its members to intellectual enjoyments, which 
it believed elevated and informed the mind as well as cultivated the. taste, and afforded 
them an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the most recent discoveries of science 
and the ever-advancing appliances of human ingenuity and skill, by which the wonders 
and mysteries of nature were, from time to time, unlocked, and the grand total.of human 
knowledge augmented. Beferring to the programme, he said that local celebrities stood 
honourably prominent in their readiness to lead into the pleasant fields of intellectual 
enjoyment. Both members and non-members of the. Society had most kindly placed 
their valuable microscopes and other apparatus and objects of interestAor the inspection 
of the visitors. Besides these, they had among tnem, in Proiessor Hunt, a gentleman 
who had long held a prominent place in the scientific world, and had thrown the lustre 
of his genius around the interesting subjects of photography and the chemistry of lignt. 
• Mr. H. Sugden Evans, F.C.S. then exhibited on the screen with the lime light a 
beautiful* senes of micro-photographs of microscopic objects, by Dr. Maddox. These 
were very much admired. Dr. Edwards succeeded, and likewise projected on the screen 
images of whole insects by means of Ladds solar microscope, and Mi. Evans the coi- 
responding photographs by the lime light. After these exhibitions the company ad- 
journed for refreshments and promenade. Photography, in another form, had its votaries 
in this interval; and the very fine stereoscopes, lent by Messrs. "Vv ood and Chadburn and 
Son, of Lord Street, were besieged. Chadburn’s patent graphite telegraphic instrument 
was a sugo-estive as well as an interesting object to others, and its merits seemed to be 
much appreciated by those interested in telegraphy. There were various other novelties 
that drew parties to them. Among these were the Mortimer ship-aquarium, invented 
by Captain Mortimer, of the ship ‘America,’ for the conveyance of fish, etc. beyond the 
seas, for the examination and study of living marine and fresh-water specimens on board 
ship. The various living American fish exhibited in the Aquarium-room, Derby Museum, 
have been thus imported by Captain Mortimer, and many British fish, etc. successfully 
conveyed by him to America. The specimens exhibited on this occasion were a sun-fash, 
Pomotis vulgaris , and some small fish of the carp tribe imported by Captain Mortimer 
These, together with a collection of dodo bones from Mauritius, collected and presented 
by Harry P Higginson, Esq.; a specimen of Eozoon Canadensis , from the Laurentian 
limestone of Canada (the earliest known fossil); the head of an Ichthyosaurus , and other 
fossils, were kindly lent by Thomas J. Moore, Esq., of the Derby Museum. 
Models of ships on a new principle, patent anchors,, patent logs, and a machine illus¬ 
trating centrifugal action, were kindly lent by Captain Walker, C.E. Mr. Alfred Hig¬ 
ginson exhibited a gyroscope, and Mr. Marples examples of Chinese miniature painting 
on rice-paper, wood and ivory carving, etc. etc. ........ , .p. a 
At half-past eight the President resumed the chair in the theatre, when Dr. Edwards 
o-ave illustrations of the effect of vibratory motion in producing figures and musical 
notes The figures were successfully represented on the screen by the aid of the electric 
lamp,' and on a fixed plate in sand, and the notes were musically intoned by the singing 
flame, harmonic tuning-forks, and the siren, on which instrument the Doctor operated 
with such bewitching power, that many, especially of the tender sex, were led to think 
that he was the siren , and the instrument but a blind introduced to betray the judgment. 
At nine o’clock, the President introduced Professor Hunt, F.B.S., the Keeper of the 
Minino- Becords. The Professor, who was well received, proceeded to deliver his lecture 
“ On the Sun and the Earth,” and which constituted the main attraction of the evening 
The lecturer acquitted himself of his task most successfully and eloquently. It would 
