123 
SOIREES AT THE LIVERPOOL ROYAL INSTITUTION. 
productions of their counties, and opened museums at least at stated times to the 
public ?■ for I scarcely recognize the public spirit that admits members only , or 
demands a fee for what ought to be open for general benefit. I contend that a 
museum open only to certain persons, or on payment of a fee, is in effect a pri¬ 
vate museum, and will never advance th % popularity of Natural History. There 
is another point—it often happens that votaries of Natural History, men born 
with the spirit for the pursuit glowing within them , are poor, nay, occasionally in 
very subordinate situations.—I have known many clever fellows in their way, so 
situated. Now are these sought out, and brought to bear as they ought to be, or 
at any rate admitted gratuitously to the society in return for their ready talent 
and manipulations ? This ought to be, if good is to be effected of a permanent 
character. The lectures, too, given under the auspices of Natural History 
Societies—and all ought to have lectures —should be of a popular character, to 
excite attention—engage interest—and awaken thought on the various phenomena 
of Nature. Mere professional lectures are ill suited to a mixed audience, and 
sometimes alarm and disgust. Occasionally, also lectures free to the public should 
be given. 
I wish to awaken attention on the subject of this paper, and if my remarks 
should be deemed worth consideration, I will at the first convenient opportunity 
resume them. 
Dryadville Cottage , near Worcester , 
January 15, 1838. 
ACCOUNT OF THE SOIREES AT THE LIVERPOOL ROYAL 
INSTITUTION. 
By Mr. T. B. Hall. 
I send you the following account of two Soirees or Conversazioni, which have 
been held at the Royal Institution in Liverpool; it may perhaps be interesting to 
some of your readers, and may serve as a model for similar ones that might prove 
successful in various towns, wherever there is a museum or rooms suitable for 
the purpose. They are part of a series which it is proposed to give during the 
present winter, and to continue'in succeeding winters if they should be found to 
be acceptable to the public. They are under the management of a sub-committee 
of the proprietors of the Royal Institution, and a sub-committee of the Literary 
and Philosophical Society. Their motives for giving them are to extend the taste 
for science, literature, and the arts ; and to impart more fully their influence to 
society ; they therefore think it desirable to afford to the inhabitants of Liverpool 
VOL. III.—NO. XVIII. 
s 
