18 
REPORT OF THE 
most agreeable, as he certainly was one of the clearest, instruc¬ 
tors in the secrets in the great Book of GrocFs creation.” * 
The Society has lost from among the list of its Honorary 
Members Sir William Fah’bairn, Baronet, who died at his seat, 
at Farnham, on the 18th of August last, at the ripe age of 82. 
This eminent Engineer was born at Kelso-on-the-Tweed in 
1789. After the completion of his professional education he 
settled at Manchester as a machine maker and engineer. From 
experiments he had made on the Clyde in 1830 on the foiin and 
traction of boats, his attention was thereby directed to the advan¬ 
tage of iron as a material for shipbuilding, and one of his 
earliest attempts in iron shipbuilding w^as a small sea-going 
vessel, constructed in Manchester and conveyed through the 
streets to the nearest waterway, and so on to its destination. 
This, one of the earliest essays in iron shipbuilding, was the 
foundation of his fame and fortune. The application of ii’on 
in the building of ships for the commercial marine and its use 
as armoim for the protection of ships of war have largely de¬ 
veloped the maritime power and commercial prosperity of this 
nation dining the past few years. As an acknowledgment of 
services commercial in their character, but of national import, 
her Majesty conferred a baronetcy on Sir William Fairbaiim, 
an honour which is now enjoyed by his son and successor. Sir 
William Fairbairn was a gentleman of the highest scientific 
attainments, was a Fellow of the Eoyal Society, and a corres¬ 
ponding Member of the Institute of France, and in the Literary 
and Philosophical Society of Manchester he succeeded to the 
chair of Dalton. 
The following Lectimes have been delivered in the Theatre 
of the Museum during the past year. 
Subject. 
On the Palatine Hill in Eome, 
Name oe Lectueee. 
1 tlie ir'aiatine Hiii in Home, ^ ^ . 
and Ancient Walls of the City r 
* The Council have much pleasure in informing’ the Members of the 
Society that a faithful portrait of the late Professor Phillips has been presented 
to the Society by R. Davies, Esq., F. S. A., one of the Vice-Presidents. 
