589 
CONVERSAZIONE. 
On Tuesday evening, the loth of May, the annual Conversazione was held in 
the rooms of the Society, which were, as usual, filled with visitors who had re¬ 
sponded to the invitations issued by the President, Vice-President, and Council. 
A large number of valuable and interesting objects were provided by the kind 
assistance of friends, many of whom have on former occasions contributed in a 
similar manner. 
The walls of many of the rooms were decorated with a large collection of most 
beautiful specimens of dried ferns and seaweeds, arranged and contributed by 
Mr. Jardine. Mr. T. Morson, jun., sent some fine pictures, including a sketch 
by George Cruikshank, entitled ‘ Sliakspeare’s first Appearance on the Stage of 
the Globe in 1564, with some of the Members of his Company.’ Messrs. Vokms 
also contributed some valuable paintings, including ‘Salvator Rosa in the 
Bandit’s Castle,’ by Cattermole, and W. J. Grant’s ‘ Last Appeal to Loyalty. 
There were some handsome busts, from Mr. Butler ; specimens of ceramic ware, 
from Messrs. Copeland ; Majolica ware, from Messrs. Phillips ; a very elegant 
group in oxidized silver, from Messrs. Mappin Brothers ; several ancient Spanish 
and other swords, etc., from Mr. Campkin ; some Hindu idols, from the Royal 
Asiatic Society ; some bronzes, from Messrs. Jackson and Graham; a remark¬ 
able effigy of Dante, from a cast taken after death, from Messrs. I hillips 
Brothers of Cockspur Street; specimens of various woods, hippopotamus teeth, 
etc. from Mr. Saunders, of Potter’s Fields ; specimens of Myall wood and a 
perfume fountain, from Messrs. Piesse and Lubin ; a perfume vaporizer, from 
Mr. Rimmel; a curious painting on stone, from Mr. Goosy ; an old stone che¬ 
mist’s sign, injured in the great fire of London, from Messrs. Corbyn and Co. ; 
a Chinese incense-burner, taken from one of the Chinese temples m the 
last war, from Mr. D. Watson ; and a life-size photograph (the largest ever 
taken) of ‘ Chang,’ the Chinese giant, from the London Stereoscopic Com- 
pany. Mr. Tennant contributed a collection of gems, etc., including speci¬ 
mens of the diamond, corundum, spinel, ruby, garnet, topaz, tourmaline, rock 
crystal, beryl, etc.; and Mr. B. M. Wright, of Great Russell Street, sent an¬ 
other very interesting collection of minerals. A large and. valuable platinum 
boiler was sent by Messrs. Johnson and Matthey ; specimens of the sca¬ 
ling salts of iron and of lactates, by Messrs. T. Morson and Son;_ a bar of 
thallium and specimens of thallium salts, by Messrs. Hopkm and Williams; 
chemical apparatus, by Mr. How ; atomized ether spray producer, inhalers, etc. 
by Mr. Robbins ; specimens of nitrate of silver, etc., by Messrs. Johnson and 
Sons ; and an ice machine, by Mr. Keith. There were, also microscopes from 
Air. Ross; a well-finished dividing engine and some microscopes, from Messrs. 
Horne and Thornthwaite ; microscopes, under which was exhibited the p ay of 
colours on the surface of a soap bubble ; Dr. Bence Jones s new fluorescent sub¬ 
stance obtained from the human body ; and Holtz’s electrical machine (by pei- 
mission of Dr. Bence Jones), from Air. Ladd, who also showed the electric dis¬ 
charge in the vapour of phosphorus; spectroscopes, micro-spectroscopes, and 
microscopes, from Messrs. Spencer, Browning, and Co.; a new registering ane¬ 
mometer, termed an “ anemograph,” aneroid barometers, etc., from Messrs. 
Elliott Brothers; microscopes, from Alessrs. Murray and Heath ; a cruciform 
sundial, from Air. Casella; microscopes and surgical instruments, from Mr. 
Baker, of Holborn, who also exhibited Dr. Richardson’s new apparatus fo.r pro¬ 
ducing local anaesthesia ; a number of microscopes, under some of which speci¬ 
mens of the Trichina spiralis were exhibited, from Mr. Collins; a large binocular 
microscope, mounted objects in portfolios, etc., from Mr. W lee er, o o. °way ’ 
apparatus for the measurement and carburation of coal-gas, from Mr. H. txiove , 
