801 
THE CONVERSAZIONE. 
After a long and weary day devoted to the affairs of the Society, it was a 
great relief to escape from the scene of contention, and to find a cooler and 
better atmosphere at South Kensington, where arrangements had been made 
for holding a conversazione in the evening. IIow delightful was the transition 
from the crowded theatre in Bloomsbury Square to the courts and galleries of 
South Kensington Museum ; from the excitement of prolonged discussion to a 
quiet promenade among the rare and choice productions of art which are so 
profusely distributed in our national Art Gallery ; from the clamour of tongues 
and the contest of angry words, to the society of those whose presence we seek 
when weary of work, and the enjoyment of harmonious sounds which tend to 
soothe the excited mind, to soften and enlarge the heart, and to reconcile man 
to his fellow-man ! 
The doors of the Museum were thrown open at eight o’clock, and from that 
time until past ten, the company continued to arrive in a continuous stream, 
Avell filling but not overcrowding the parts of the Museum usually occupied on 
such occasions. There were, of course, no objects of special pharmaceutical 
interest exhibited on this occasion beyond those belonging to the Museum ; but 
with a company such as had met, and music the best of its kind, in addition to 
the ordinary attractions of the interesting collection of works of art in the 
Museum, there seemed to be nothing wanting to render the occasion one of un- 
mixed satisfaction. Indeed the absence of everything tending to remind the 
company of their everyday occupations was rather advantageous than other¬ 
wise ; they had not met for the discussion of questions relating to trade or 
science, but for social intercourse and the cultivation of good feeling one with 
another. We believe this object was not only adhered to, but successfully 
accomplished, and the presence of ladies contributed greatly to this result. 
The President, Vice-President,'and several other members of the Council were 
engaged through the greater part of the evening in receiving the company, who 
then distributed themselves throughout the building, some admiring the objects 
that most attracted their attention, including the beautiful collection of pictures, 
among which are those of the late Jacob Bell; some listening to the music per¬ 
formed by the band of the Grenadier Guards, conducted by Mr. Dan Godfrey ; 
and others to the vocal performances of the Orpheus Glee Union, under the di¬ 
rection of Mr. E. Eagan. These glees formed a very attractive part of the 
entertainment. They were given in the lecture theatre, which, we were in¬ 
formed, accommodates about a thousand persons, and it seemed to be full 
throughout the entire evening. It is due to Mr. Owen and other officials of the 
Museum to say that the arrangements made, and the attention and civility 
shown to the company, were all that could have been desired. To Mr. Owen 
especially the Council are indebted for the great pains he took to guard against 
every source of annoyance, and render the entertainment a success. I he 
number present was nearly three thousand, including a very large number of 
medical and scientific men. We particularly noticed among the company, Sir 
John Bowring, Sir William Tite, M.P., Dr. Brewer, M.P., Professor Ansted, 
Professor Guthrie, Professor Barford, Professor Soubeiran, of Paris, Professor 
Tidy, Professor Tusou, Dr. Hooker, Dr. Headlam Greenhow, Dr. Letlieby, 
Dr. Langdon Down, Dr. Silver, Dr. Birkett, Dr. Tweedie, Dr. Playfair, 
Dr. lladcliffe, Dr. L. S. Beale, Dr. Septimus Gibbon, Dr. Murchison, Dr. F. J. 
Farre, Dr. Sidney Ringer, Dr. F. Ramsay, Dr. Silvester, Dr. R. II. Semple, 
Dr. Ballard, Dr. Vinen, Dr. Grimes, Dr. Jackson, Dr. Copland, Dr. Alois, 
Dr. Greenhalgh, Dr. Tanner, Dr. Anderson, Dr. Dobell, Dr. Thompson, Dr. 
Francis, Dr. Bradley, Dr. Miller, Dr. Alison, Dr. Dickson, Dr. Billing, Mr. P 
L. Siminonds, Mr. Jabez Hogg, Mr. George Cruikshauk, Miss Garrett, etc. 
