Whatever the unfulfilled hopes of her books she was ever eager to arouse others to the enjoyment she had found in scientific pursuits, and on the return of the family to live in Manchester she devised a plan for a Ladies' Literary Society. Here again she met with disappointment, the number of members with which it started being much short of her hopes. What the little Society might have eventually grown to, had it continued to receive her undivided attention, it would be useless to speculate-meantime those efforts were pointing her out as the natural leader of the new movement now drawing thoughtful women all over the land to join in one common purpose.

Her mental attitude at that time may be estimated by the address, given by her as President of the "Manchester Ladies' Literary Society" at its opening meeting in the Royal Institution, Mosley Street, on January 1867.

ADDRESS.

LADIES, The Society we are met to-day to inaugurate is designed to supply a want which must have been experienced by many who interest themselves in the pursuit of knowledge. We all know how much more pleasant and easy any study appears, when pursued in common with others of kindred tastes; and how much more interesting any new fact becomes when we are sure of a sympathizing audience to whom we may impart it; who are ready to listen to any observations we may make, and to communicate to us any knowledge they may possess, which bears upon the subject.

Those of our number who have been in the habit of collecting plants or insects well know the pleasure of announcing, or receiving the news of the discovery, of some rare variety; and

will agree that a much greater amount of positive knowledge, if it must be shut up for ever within our own breasts, would not afford the same kind of enjoyment as that found in sharing its pleasures and surprises with those around us. Should there be any among us who have not yet experienced this pleasure, they will, I trust, learn it through their connection with us, and thus add another to such agreeable episodes as brighten the path of our daily lives.

The necessity for some common ground on which all interested in intellectual pursuits may meet, has been so strongly felt, that there exist all over the country institutions and societies, devoted either to literature and philosophy in general, or to the cultivation of special branches of knowledge. The efforts of these societies conduce not only to the delight and edification of their members, but by the stimulus they have given to individual research, have led to the making of great discoveries with regard to the hidden laws of nature. These discoveries have been applied practically towards facilitating the means of communication and locomotion, and in countless other ways, and a general amelioration of the hardships and discomforts of life has taken place, as a direct consequence of the encouragement of scientific research.

But practical advantage of this kind, though the inevitable result of better acquaintance with the laws that rule the world in which we live, is not the object with which scientific societies were founded. They were designed to promote the discovery and the spread of truth. By truth I do not mean any mysterious abstraction, but true assertions respecting matters of fact, and true theories, that is, theories consistent with the appearances they are designed to explain. The pleasure the mind derives from the discovery and contemplation of truth of this kind is one of the highest and purest emotions of our nature. It is an end in itself, and for the attainment of this end, men have cheerfully devoted the best years of their lives to patient and incessant study, for no other fee or reward than the delight of solving the mysterious enigmas presented by the living universe. These high priests of science labour, and invite us to enter into the fruit of their labours; they gather and spread the feast, and call upon all to

partake of it. The qualification for partaking of this feast consists not so much in amount of information, as in taste or inclination. Of course our enjoyment is heightened in direct proportion to the store of previous knowledge we bring to the board; but Wisdom is liberal to all her children, and has milk for babes, as well as strong meat for men.

In this city there are many societies established for the advancement of science, in each of the two ways in which science can be said to advance. There is the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, which aims at advancing science by encouraging actually new discoveries; and which numbers among its members men eminent in the ranks of those whose efforts carry the lantern of research into hitherto unexplored regions. With less ambitious aims exists the Manchester Scientific Students' Association, whose professed object is the advancement of knowledge among its own members, by mutual encouragement in the study of what has been actually attained in science, rather than with any expectation of surprising the world by new discoveries. These, and other societies with similar aims, fill a most useful place, and all must wish for them a long continuance of prosperity.

But these institutions have a deficiency, which deficiency we are now trying to remedy. They do not throw open such opportunities as they afford for acquiring knowledge, freely to all who desire it; they draw an arbitrary line among scientific students, and say to our half of the human race-you shall not enter into the advantages we have to offer- you shall not enjoy the facilities we possess of cultivating the faculties and tastes with which you may be endowed; and should any of you, in spite of this discouragement, reach such a measure of attainments as would entitle one of us to look for the honour of membership or fellowship in any learned body, we will not, by conferring such distinctions upon any of you, recognize your right to occupy your minds with such matters at all.

Under these circumstances, the only course for the excluded persons seems to be-to try what can be done by forming a society of their own; and the cordial support which the idea has received from those directly interested, forms not only its complete justi

fication, but is the best earnest of the success for which we hope. It has also received such assistance and encouragement from scientific men, and others, as proves conclusively that the apparently harsh and arbitrary exclusiveness of the scientific societies of Manchester, proceeds from no deliberate desire that we should pass our lives in ignorance.

It has not been thought desirable to specify any branch of study to which the deliberations of the society shall be directed, but to allow ourselves free range over all the subjects embraced in the general name of intellectual pursuits.

Some persons may be tempted to smile at the idea of a number of ladies, whom they cannot suppose to be very learned, occupying their minds with such subjects, for instance, as the Origin of Species, or the Antiquity of Man; the full understanding of which demands an amount of knowledge and experience in scientific investigations to which, I fear, none of us can lay claim.

The implied censure would be well deserved were our professed object to throw any new light on these difficult questions, but as we meet simply to inform ourselves on what has been discovered and propounded respecting them, the reproach of ignorance cannot be justly employed as an argument to dissuade us from endeavouring to gain information. We believe there is no method so effective of fixing in the mind the information that is imparted to us, as that of a discussion, in which every one is invited to ask any question that occurs, or to state unreservedly any opinion, along with the grounds on which it is entertained. We therefore determine to institute and encourage such discussions, and if the result should be, to prove to ourselves that we know very little of what we are talking about, that will surely be the best of reasons for trying to remedy the defect as fast as we can.

Besides the addition to our store of positive knowledge, there is another important advantage to be derived from scientific study, namely, the cultivation of those habits of accuracy in speech and thought, which are so absolutely necessary to its successful prosecution. One of the first lessons which a scientific student learns is, that he must not take a mere impression on his own mind, however powerful, as representing a positive fact, until he has

carefully verified its accuracy by comparing it with the results of observation, and is prepared to state exactly on what grounds he entertains it. And when he hears an assertion made, he will pause, before accepting it as true, for the mental enquiry whether the asserter is likely to be personally acquainted with the fact he alleges, and if not, what are his probable sources of information. On the answer to these expressed or unexpressed queries, will depend the measure of credence to be given to the assertion in question. A reverence for accuracy of this kind would arrest many a baseless and painful rumour; and if it be the tendency of scientific investigation to conduce to such a tone of mind, the most inveterate sceptic as to the benefits of intellectual culture for women, might be induced to confess, that it is better that maids, old and young, should graduate in the School for Science, rather than in the School for Scandal.

Another good habit learned at scientific gatherings is, that of listening with patience and courtesy to opinions differing widely from our own. Within the limits prescribed by the rules we, in common with similar societies, have adopted, there is room for much divergence of thought, and we hope for, and desire to encourage the expression of, all the various views that exist on the subject chosen for discussion. Nothing can be more dull than a debate in which the speakers are all of one mind; therefore, we hope that on any subject on which it is possible to hold two opinions somebody will always be found ready to advocate the other one. Difference of opinion does not imply disrespect for the judgment of those from whom we dissent. It must have occurred at times to all of us, to find ourselves at issue, on some point or other, with persons to whom we look up, as being, on the whole, wiser or more learned than ourselves.

One of the greatest benefits which intellectual pursuits bring in their train, is that of affording a peaceful neutral ground, in which the mind can take refuge from the petty cares and annoyances of life, or even find diversion from more serious troubles. Like prudent speculators, who keep part of their capital in the funds, those who place the sources of a portion of their income of enjoyment in some pursuit wholly unconnected with their personal