"On Ice Impediments to Australian Voyages," by J. T. Towson, Esq. "On Certain New and Rare Products of the Vegetable Kingdom," by T. C. Archer, Esq.

The donations to your Society, made between the month of June, 1854, and the same month, 1855, have been entered in your minutes, received your thanks, and been acknowledged in the ninth volume of "Proceedings." They may be thus enumerated:

October 16, 1854.-"Lectures on Quaternions," by Sir W. R. Hamilton, from the Author; "Proceedings and Papers of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, Session VI," from the Society; "Notices of Meetings of Members of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, Part XI," from the Royal Institution, Albermarle-street, London; "Twenty-first Annual Report of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, 1833," from the Society; "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society," Vol. XIV. Nos. 6 and 8, from the Society, October, 30."Siluria," by Sir Roderick J. Murchison, from the Author; "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society," Vol. XIV. No. 9, from the Society. November 27.-" Report of the Council of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire," from the Society. December 11. -"Sixth Annual Report of the Free Public Library and Museum, at Salford," from the Committee; "Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society," Vol. XV. No. 1, from the Society; "New Theories of the Universe," by Dr. James Bedford, from the Author; "Natural History of the Eastern Borders," Vol. I., Botany, by Dr. George Johnston, from the Author. January 8, 1855.-"Tyneside Naturalists' Field Club Transactions," three parts, from the Club; "Seven Letters on the Estuary of the Mersey," by Joseph Boult, Esq., from the Author; "Report of the Botanical Society of London," from the Society; "Remarks on the Letter of the Medical Relief Committee to the General Board of Health," by Dr. Duncan, from the Author. January 22.-"Journal of the Archæological and Historic Society of Chester," from the beginning, Parts 1, 2, and 3, from the Society. February 5.-"Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Session 1853-54," from the Society. February 19.-"Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society," from the Society; Laws and List of Members of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, from the Society; Duplicate Copies of the same on the 28th of May. March 19.-"Journal of the Geological Society of Dublin," Vol. IV., Part 2, No. 2, and Vol. VI., Part 1, from the Society; "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society," Vol. XV., No. 4, from the Society; "Report of the Royal Institution of Liverpool," from the Council of the Institution. April 16.-" On Spontaneous Combustion," by Dr. Inman, from the Author; "Monthly Notices of

the Royal Astronomical Society," Vol. XV., No. 5, from the Society; "Letter to Mr. Urban, on the Complutensian Polyglot," by Mr. Grienfield, from the Author; "On the Human Hair," from Mr. Rowland. April 30.-"On the Rights and Jurisdiction of the County Palatine of Chester," by J. B. Yates, Esq., from the Editor. "On the Blasting of Rocks," by W. Nisbet, Esq., from the Author; May 14."Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society," Vol. XV., No. 6, from the Society; "Journal of the Geological Society of Dublin," Vol. VI., Part 2, from the Society; "Proceedings of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society," Vol. I., 1855, and “Annual Report for 1854," from the Society. May 28.-" On Trade and Partnership," by Swinton Boult, Esq., from the Author; "Transactions of the Ashmolean Society," Vols. I. and II., and Part of Vol. III., from the Society; "History and Description of the Barberini or Portland Vase," by James Boardman, Esq., from the Author.

Many objects of interest, specimens of natural history, and rare works, have been exhibited at the meetings; and your Council trust that members will continue to afford gratification by such exhibitions. Your Council would recommend, at the same time, that previous notice be given to your Secretary.

That the various objects of this Society might in the public business receive due regard, sectional committees were appointed at an early period of the session. These were—

A.-"Literature and the Fine Arts," J.B. Yates, Esq., chairman. B." Natural Philosophy and Science," S. Boult, Esq., chairman. C.—“ Natural History, including Geology and Ethnology," the

Rev. H. H. Higgins, M.A., chairman.

Although the labours of these committees have been rendered light by the arrangements made by your Secretary, the Council recommend their continuance. And this leads your Council to observe, that the success of a session and facility of working mainly depends upon the united exertions of the members, on whom it is incumbent, even at personal sacrifice of time and trouble, to lay communications before the meetings. The individual exertions of others, in inducing their friends to join us, would aid this success, both intellectually and materially.

Your Council regard with interest the operation of the Liverpool Compass Committee, originally suggested by the British Association, and started by this Society; and they look forward with expectation to the practical results of their scientific inquiries.

The Treasurer's accounts will be laid before you, from which you will find that the expenses of management have been regulated by due regard to economy.

The Society is aware that, prior to the printing of the "Proceedings," there was a considerable surplus capital; but by the issue of these volumes, together with several grants made by the Society, amounting to £113, the funds have been reduced to the income arising from subscriptions. The table appended shows this.

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE DURING THE YEARS 1846 TO 1855, INCLUSIVE.

To continue the publication of your Society's proceedings on a scale of fulness, adequate resources must be placed at the command of your Council, who would regret to see the printing suspended or curtailed; and they cannot recommend a reduction of the ordinary expenses of management.

The average income of the Society, at half-guinea subscriptions, may

be estimated at £70, and the working expenses at £40; thus leaving but £30 for publishing the "Proceedings," the average cost of which has much exceeded that sum-the expense of the first eight volumes amounting in the aggregate to £560 5s. 7d.

The subject of life-membership having been brought under the notice of your Council, in connexion with an increased subscription, they would recommend that an alteration in the laws be made, so that the present and future members may compound for all subsequent subscriptions. A motion on this subject will be submitted to you.

Your Council are glad to report that, in accordance with their recommendation of the 4th of October, 1852, subsequently confirmed by the Society, admissions to all the public meetings are given to the presidents and secretaries, ex officies, of the Royal Institution, Polytechnic Society, Architectural Society, Chymists' Association, Photographic Society, Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, and the Academy of Arts; and that this privilege is reciprocated.

The members of these societies were invited to the first of those important meetings when the Rev. Dr. Scoresby addressed the Society on the Compasses of Iron Ships; and on those other occasions when that subject engaged the Society's attention, the Polytechnic Society and the Compass Committee were admitted to the meetings; and this Society was invited to the public meeting of the Polytechnic Society when the same subject was brought before them. Your Council refer to these and other indications of good feeling with satisfaction, seeing that mutual intercourse not only strengthens hands but awakes dormant energy.

Finally, in accordance with the laws, the Council recommend for election upon the new Council the five following gentlemen: Francis Archer, M.R.C.S.E., Frederick W. Bloxam, Edward Bretherton, F.G.S., Rev. A. Ramsay, M.A., and Alfred Higginson, M.R.C.S.E.

They resign their trust, confident that the honour of this Society safely rests with its members, and that the Council to be chosen will carry out the intentions of the Society with zeal, prudence, and firmness of purpose.

Signed,

JOSEPH DICKINSON, M.D., F.R.S., President.
DAVID P. THOMSON, M.D., Hon. Secretary.

Dec. 6.-To paid Mr. Rundell, Engraving

Mr. Greenwood, for Stationery

0 12 6

Sep.

Sundries and Stationery

0 18 0

Turner, on account of late Secretary.

0 13 0

"

Ditto, Commission on Collecting

2 15 0

......3 10 0

7 19

9

Mr. Greenwood, for Printing ............101

Messrs. Ford & West, for Lithographing 3 9 2

15 2 2