merchant in the New Orleans trade. He was a liberal supporter of the local charitable institutions, and especially of the Industrial Ragged Schools, formerly in Soho Street, and now in Everton. In 1855 he was President of the Chamber of Commerce, and became also a magistrate of the borough. He joined the Literary and Philosophical Society in 1842, and in 1849 he was elected treasurer, which office he filled until 1853, but failing health had for some time past rendered him incapable of attending the meetings. He died December 3, 1864.

Dr. Dickinson came of an old Cumberland family, and was born at Lampleigh, near Whitehaven. He graduated at Trinity College, Dublin, as M.D. in 1843, and became a very successful practitioner of physic in Liverpool. He was formerly physician to the Liverpool Dispensaries, and afterwards to the Royal Infirmary. Combining with his medical attainments a strong taste for natural history, he was elected a Fellow of the Linnæan Society in 1839, and on commencing his career in Liverpool he was appointed lecturer on botany at the Medical School, a post which he occupied for some years, afterwards exchanging it for medical jurisprudence, and ultimately for the chair of medicine. About the time of the meeting of the British Association in Liverpool, in 1854, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and he was also a member of the Royal Irish Academy; and in 1859 the Royal College of Physicians added him to their list of Fellows. He became a member of the Literary and Philosophical Society in 1840, and in 1852 he was raised to the presidential chair, which he filled three years. Of late years, failing health obliged him to relinquish some of the more active duties of his profession, and in 1857 he spent the winter in Egypt, with a view to re-establish his health. In this he only partially succeeded, but unfortunately lost his wife on the journey. In 1859

he resigned his post of physician to the Royal Infirmary, and was appointed consulting physician, and although for a time he resumed practice, he ultimately succumbed, and died at Waterloo in July last. Dr. Dickinson accumulated a very valuable library of works on natural history, more particularly on botany, which he was always ready to place at the disposal of students; and his urbanity and kindness of disposition will long be remembered by many who had occasion to avail themselves of his liberality. He read several papers before the Society, but his chief undertaking was an edition of the "Flora of Liverpool," upon the basis of Hall's Flora, which was published by the Literary and Philosophical Society as an appendix to the volume of Proceedings for the year 1850–51 (No. 6).

An experiment has been tried of late, of holding fortnightly social meetings, alternately with the regular meetings of the Society, at the houses of various members of the Society who were willing to receive the members generally. On such occasions a general invitation has been issued from the chair, and it was distinctly understood, by the gentlemen at whose houses the receptions were to take place, that their hospitality was to be of a simple and inexpensive kind, in order that others might not be deterred from following their example. The result of this experiment was, that several very interesting and agreeable evenings were passed by those members who availed themselves of the invitation, whose numbers were, however, rather limited. It is considered, however, that sufficient encouragement has been given to the trial to warrant its continuance, and it is hoped that during the coming session members will be found both to give and accept similar invitations, by which means the Society may become more thoroughly united as a body, by adding the advantages of social intercourse to those already enjoyed by it.

The Annual Dinner of the Society was held at Childwall Abbey, on the 25th of May. The number of members present fell short of that of previous years—a circumstance which may be partly attributed to carelessness in the proper delivery of the circulars announcing the meeting. The members present, however, did not fail to make the gathering an agreeable one.

The disastrous fire which recently occurred at the printing establishment of Mr. Marples entirely destroyed the stock of the Proceedings for the past Session, which were far advanced towards completion. It is fortunate, however, that a complete copy of the volume, as far as printed, is in the hands of the Secretary, so that the labours of the Session will not be irretrievably lost. These sheets have been again placed in the hands of Mr. Marples, and some delay in their final publication will, it is hoped, be the only inconvenience which the Society will suffer from the fire in question. The Council would take this opportunity of expressing their sympathy with Mr. Marples, as a member of the Society, for the great loss and inconvenience he has suffered in consequence of this unfortunate event.

The volume for this Session would hardly have reached the average size had not the valuable Paper of Dr. Ginsburg, on the Kabbalah, been transferred to it from the previous year. That Paper should have appeared in the volume issued during the recess, but the great labour of its production would not allow of its being sooner finished. It was thought desirable that this volume should not be longer delayed, but that the Paper should be appended to the succeeding one. Hence the last volume was somewhat small, while that for the past Session will be larger than usual. Fortunately, the Paper in question, which is now completed, escaped the fire from the circumstance of its not having been transferred to Mr. Marples's office.

In concluding this Report, the Council would urge upon the members of the Society the necessity of individual as well as of united exertion. The Papers during the last Session were not so numerous as might have been desired, and it is thought that this was partially owing to the belief that Papers were already too numerous. This, however, is an error, and the Secretary would be able to effect arrangements for many more Papers if they were forthcoming, provided he had sufficient notice of them. Communications, however brief, will be welcomed; but members reading such Papers or making such communications will greatly facilitate the business of the Secretary by giving him timely notice of the subject, and the most convenient evening for bringing them forward.

In accordance with Law 36, you will be called upon to elect five gentlemen upon the Council who were not upon that of the preceding year, and the retiring Council recommend that the following be selected, viz.-Francis Archer, Jun., B.A. Cantab., Robert D. Holt, Albert J. Mott, James Birchall, Thomas Balman, M.D.

(Signed)

J. A. PICTON, President.

CUTHBERT COLLINGWOOD, Hon. Sec.

It was moved by Dr. GINSBURG, seconded by the Rev. JOSHUA JONES, and resolved, "That the Report now read be adopted."

The Treasurer then presented his Balance-sheet, which exhibited a reserve of £ 50, and a balance of £21 of receipts over the expenditure of the past year.

It was moved by Mr. W. H. WEIGHTMAN, seconded by Mr. F. ARCHER, Jun., and resolved, "That the accounts now presented, and audited by Messrs. Unwin and Jones, be passed."

The Society next proceeded to ballot for a new Council and Officers, and first for five new members of Council to replace five who retire annually, when the following were elected: Mr. F. Archer, jun., B.A., Mr. R. D. Holt, Mr. A. J. Mott, Mr. James Birchall, and Dr. Balman. Next, for nine other members of Council, namely-Dr. Ginsburg, Dr. Nevins, Dr. Edwards, Mr. Byerley, Dr. Collingwood, Rev. H. H. Higgins, Rev. Joshua Jones, Mr. A. Higginson, and Rev. W. Banister. Of these, the Rev. Dr. Ginsburg, Dr. Nevins, and Dr. Edwards were elected Vice-Presidents; Mr. Byerley, Treasurer; and Dr. Collingwood, Honorary Secretary.

Mr. Robinson Kendal was balloted for, and duly elected an ordinary member of the Society.

The Associates of the Society were re-elected, upon the recommendation of the Council.

A large number of donations were laid upon the table, and thanks voted to the donors.

It was decided, after some discussion, that, the Society having declined to vote any money from its funds to the Gallery of Inventions and Science, it could not continue to send delegates to that institution.

Dr. Collingwood exhibited and explained a very complete set of portions of the Atlantic Cable, mounted as a trophy, and the property of Captain Anderson, of the Great Eastern, which may be seen at the Free Public Library.

Some discussion arose as to the probability of success in the attempt which will be made to raise the broken end of the cable next summer.

The Society then adjourned.