resigned, and 4 have died. There have been added Ordinary Members.

The Society now consists of 172 Ordinary Memb 32 Honorary Members, 23 Corresponding Members, 11 Associates.

The attendance at the meetings continues to cause m satisfaction. Fourteen Ordinary Meetings were held du the past Session, with an average attendance of 88.

The joint meeting of this Society and the Liver Polytechnic Society was in every way a success, and hoped that joint meetings with one or more of the o kindred Societies may continue a feature of the Soci proceedings.

Amongst the deaths the Council have to deplore tho Mr. H. H. Bremner, a former Member of Council, Sir James A. Picton.

Sir J. A. Picton had been connected with the So without interruption, for the long period of nearly f three years, having been elected an Ordinary Member of 28th of December, 1846, in company with our pr highly-esteemed member, the Rev. Henry Hugh Hig His power was soon felt in the Society. He very became a Member of Council, on which he rendered a and efficient service, rarely being absent from its meet and manifesting an increasing and lively interest i proceedings. On two occasions the members showed appreciation of this thoughtfulness and attention by ele him to the presidential office in 1863 and 1875.

Sir J. A. Picton's contributions to the Society's vol of Proceedings are numerous, being not less than t in number, and ranging over forty years of his me ship.

The majority of these papers treat of subjects in ge literature and philology, in which he excelled; other

devoted to antiquarian and historical matters, and a few dwell upon points in other departments of knowledge which attracted general attention at the time. In addition to these essays, Sir James frequently brought before the Society communications on miscellaneous subjects, indicative of his constant and close observation of all that occurred around him. All these productions give evidence of the extensive area of his reading, and of the facility with which he acquired knowledge outside the limits of his own specially chosen subjects. He was a fluent and graceful speaker, sharing in almost every debate; keen in argument, and not easily overcome.

Notwithstanding his advanced age, his attendances at the meetings were not relaxed until the last few months; and although a certain degree of physical weakness was perceptible towards the close of his life, his mental vigour was in no way diminished, and he continued to be a hard intellectual worker to the last. With his departure the Society has lost one of its most distinguished members, whose life and work within it form a distinct feature in its history.

But it was not to the Society alone that Sir James Picton gave his valuable aid in the promotion of literary and scientific culture. In the early part of his long public career he devoted himself to the advocacy of the Free Public Library and Museums' Act, the passing of which, it is hardly too much to say, was in a great measure due to his zealous exertions. He was the chairman of the Library, Museum and Arts Committee of the Town Council from its foundation to the time of his death, and in that capacity he presided over the Museum, the Free Public Library, and the Walker Art Gallery. In the selection of books for the use of the citizens, he acted on the principle of providing works which would not only be serviceable in the general diffusion

of knowledge, but would also be of special benefit students to literary, scientific and professional men. vinced that in his own mind he had a veritable posses which it was his clear duty to cultivate, he sought to imp upon others the like sense of responsibility, and for generous end he endeavoured to place within the reac all, through the institutions over which he presided, best available facilities for enabling them to fulfil this t As the author of the Memorials of Liverpool, and d works of local history, his name will not soon be forgot but the best monument to his memory is the noble ins tion in William Brown Street, which his discernment devotion originated and upheld for the improvement of fellow citizens.

The Report was passed on the motion of Dr. NE seconded by Mr. PHINEAS BENAS.

The HONORARY TREASURER read his Annual State of Accounts as audited, which was adopted and passe the motion of Dr. NEWTON, seconded by Mr. GREEN.

The following Office Bearers were then elected: Presidents-Isaac Roberts, F.G.S., F.R.A.S., Prin Rendall, M.A., Mr. B. L. Benas; Hon. Treasurer-Fred W. Edwards, M.S.A.; Hon. Secretary-John Ruther LL.B.; Hon. Librarian-R. McLintock.

The following Ordinary Members of Council were elected: John Newton, M.R.C.S., W. Watson Ruther J. M. McMaster, R. J. Lloyd, M.A., Geo. Henry Mo Chas. J. English, Henry Longuet Higgins, Josiah Ma Rev. J. Polack, B.A., J. W. Thompson, B.A., Robe Green, Thomas A. Bellew, Miss Fanny Calder, R Nicholson.

The Associates of the Society were re-elected, and t list was added Mr. Arthur Edward Nevins.

A vote of thanks to Mr. BIRCHALL for his conduct i

Chair was proposed by Dr. NEVINS, seconded by Mr. BENAS, and unanimously carried.

The Rev. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A., the President elect, delivered his Inaugural Address on "What is Religion?"

FIRST ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, October 21st, 1889.

REV. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A., President, in the Chair.

Mr. R. K. Leather, M.A., Mr. F. J. Sharpe, B.A., and the Rev. C. A. Stubbs, M.A., were duly elected Ordinary Members.

Various objects of interest in Natural History were exhibited.

SECOND ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, November 4th, 1889.

REV. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A., President, in the Chair.

Mr. JAMES BIRCHALL read a paper on 66 'The Church and the State in Medieval Europe. II. The Liberties of the Gallican Church." t

THIRD ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, November 18th, 1890.

REV. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A., President, in the Chair.

Mr. W. A. Duncan and the Rev. R. A. Armstrong, B.A., were duly elected Ordinary Members.

Mr. W. A. UNWIN read a paper on "The Authorship Gil Blas."

The PRESIDENT exhibited a series of thirty specimens Turbo petholatus from West Australia and Queensla lately acquired by the Public Museum. Many of th possessed the beautiful eye-like operculum which char terises the species. The shell is remarkable for its hig varied and elaborated colour pattern. Mr. HIGGINS m some remarks on the interest of the exquisite adornments this shell, for which, so far as he knew, no utilitarian rea could be given.

REV. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A., President, in the Chair

Capt. Ferguson was elected an Associate Member. Principal RENDALL, M.A., read a paper on "Stoicism a History."

FIFTH ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, December 16th, 1889. REV. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A., President, in the Chair

Dr. R. R. Rentoul was duly elected an Ordinary Mem Mr. R. C. JOHNSON read a paper on "The Perception the Invisible."

Mr. E. R. RUSSELL read a paper on "The Book of K Arthur." t