DONCASTER LYCEUM. This Literary and Scientific Institution rose into existence in December, 1834. A desire of union for intellectual purposes had partially manifested itself, at intervals, in the town; and a small degree of exertion was alone wanting to carry it into effect. A few individuals consequently met, and a public meeting subsequently took place, at which the mayor presided; when an introductory address was delivered by E. Scholfield, Esq., M.D., and the society established. A provisional committee having been nominated and a room engaged, on the sixth of January, 1835, the first general meeting of the society was held. It was found that several of the most respectable residents, including the vicar and nearly all the professional gentlemen, were on the list of members: its stability was thus considered secure at the outset. Rules and regulations, previously drawn up, were submitted and adopted; and presiding officers and a committee appointed for the then current year. The plan of this institution is comprehensive, and its views extend to general utility. It has two subscription lists; the one of annual members, at £1,-the other of quarterly, at 10s., in four payments; the latter for young persons and others, whose circumstances demand consideration; but, when admitted members, the privileges are equal. The admission is by written proposal and vote by ballot. The society is governed by a president, vice-presidents, and committee, elected annually. The presidents hitherto have been, the Rev. John Sharpe, D.D., and Henry Bower, Esq., F.S.A.; the vice-presidents, E. B. Denison and John Branson, Esqrs., and Dr. Scholfield. Its committee of twelve members are chosen six from each class of subscribers; the treasurer and secretary apart; and all by ballot. Ladies, on payment of 7s. annually, are likewise entitled to attend the reading of lectures and papers. The proceedings have differed little from the ordinary course. Periodicals have been provided, and a library, commencing with donations, has been increased by purchase; but it is not at present extensive. Lectures, on various subjects of science and literature, have been delivered by members of the society; and professed lecturers occasionally engaged. Papers have also been read and discussed; and thus opportunities afforded of elucidating, by a comparison of opinions, subjects within the scope of its plan, from which politics and controversial divinity are strictly excluded. A common feeling has been evinced of the advantage of a central place of communication, where men engaged in various pursuits or avocations, may unite for purposes of universal interest, the cultivation of knowledge, and the spread of refinement, although they may differ on passing events and ordinary circumstances. A museum forms part of the plan of the institution; but until of late, owing to the limited extent and insecure tenure of the pre mises occupied by the society, little has been done towards its formation. Within the last three months it has, however, made considerable progress. Many valuable donations have been made, including numerous beautiful specimens illustrative of Natural History and Geology. A building-fund committee has recently been formed, and hopes are entertained that, with the aid of its friends and supporters in Doncaster, seconded by the liberality of the opulent and influential residents of its neighbourhood, another year will see the foundation laid of a building suitable to its purposes; and this Lyceum become not only a centre of union for the most commendable and delightful of all pursuits, but also a repository of many beautiful and valuable specimens of the productions of nature and art. The officers and committee for 1835 were :-Rev. John Sharpe, D.D., president; Henry Bower, Esq., F.SA., and E. Scholfield, Esq., M.D., vice-presidents. Committee-annual members: Messrs. E. Sheardown, T. B. Mason, J. E. Morey, R. Storrs, C. White, J. Dunhill; quarterly members: Messrs. T. Oxley, J. Hawley, G. Siddall, W. R. Scott, W. Illingworth, S. Appleby. Treasurer, Mr. C. Baker. Secretary, Mr. W. Wimberley. Officers and committee for 1836:-Henry Bower, Esq., president; Rev. Dr. Sharpe, E. B. Denison and John Branson, Esqrs., and Dr. Scholfield, vice-presidents. Committee-annual members: Messrs. W. Beckitt, T. B. Mason, R. Storrs, J. E. Morey, E. Sheardown, J. L. Levison; quarterly members: Messrs. W. R. Scott, W. Illingworth, J. Hawley, G. Siddall, H. Beckitt, J. Stott. Treasurer, Mr. C. Baker. Honorary secretary, Mr. W. C. Wimberley. The lectures which have been given are: On the best means of imparting practical science, by Mr. Levison-On hereditary disease, by Dr. Scholfield On the lyrical poetry of England and Spain, by Mr. Wimberley-On the architecture of Greece and Rome, by Mr. Hadfield-On astronomy, by J. Abbott, Esq., B.A.—On the circulation of the blood, by Mr. Morey-On the structure and functions of the eye, by Mr. Storrs-On entomology, by Mr. Baker-On philology, by the Rev. J. Callaway-On general education, by the Rev. Dr. Sharpe-On the oracles of antiquity, by the Rev. P. Inchbald, D.C.L.-On phrenology, by Mr. Levison-An examination of phrenology, by the Rev. J. Bromley-On geology, by Mr. J. N. Mosby-On statistical science and its results, by Mr. BakerOn the philosophy of logic, by Mr. Callaway-On the spirit and influence of poetry, by Mr. Wimberley-On the nature and artifices of unjust and malignant criticism, by Mr. Abbott-On Hebrew poetry, by Mr. MosbyOn the rise and progress of the Italian language, and the poetry of Dante, by Mr. J. B. Testa. Papers on various subjects have been read by Messrs. Morey, Storrs, Levison, Mosby, Scott, Hawley, Stott, Siddall, H. Beckitt, Hepworth, H. Brooke, &c. In the early part of Oct. 1836, a discussion on Phrenology took place at the Doncaster Lyceum, Mr. J. L. Levison appearing as its advocate, and the Rev. J. Bromley, dissenting minister, Mr. Morey, Mr. Storrs, Surgeons, of Doncaster, and others, as opponents. The usual oft-refuted objections of atheism, fatalism, &c., were brought forward by the anti-phrenologists on this occasion, but the charges were satisfactorily replied to by Mr. Levison, author of Mental Culture, and who has done much for the diffusion of Phrenology, by his lectures on the subject, in various parts of England. Intense interest was excited by this discussion, in the enlightened inhabitants of Doncaster and its neighbourhood. We should much like to see a Phrenological Society established at Doncaster, apart from the interests of the Lyceum, and are convinced that it would be well supported. The general feeling of the town is certainly favourable to the science, and the spark only wants fanning to kindle into a goodly flame. MACCLESFIELD SOCIETY FOR THE DIFFUSION OF Ar the first anniversary meeting of this Institution, John Brocklehurst, Esq., M.P., the President of the Society, on taking the chair, congratulated the members on the rapid progress the Institution had made since its formation, and concluded an animated address by requesting the Secretary to read the Report. The Committee commenced the Report by stating that, notwithstanding much unmerited obloquy and misrepresentation on the one hand, and indifference on the other, the Society had continued steadily to increase its members. The Committee further express a hope that the number of those persons who desire to monopolize knowledge for a particular class of the community, and to prevent the working classes from sharing with them the delights of intellectual improvement, are fast decreasing; and that their senseless clamours about the evil tendency of learning, when pursued by the working man, will no longer be listened to as a truth, but be received as a gross libel, and fit only to be entertained by those whose sympathies are all expended within the limits of their own particular order and rank in society. The reading of the Report, which embraced a variety of topics, being concluded, the Rev. Edward Stanley addressed the meeting in a very energetic strain. In the course of his observations, the reverend gentleman said he was convinced by every day's experience of the importance of such establishments throughout the country, but more especially in the great commercial towns, where every encouragement should be given by all who called themselves patriots or Christians, in the wide and comprehensive sense of the term, to institutions whereby the minds of an important part of the community might be directed to pursuits which, while they enlarged and elevated them, combined, at the same time, rational amusement with utility. If he had ever entertained the shadow of a doubt respecting the benefits likely to accrue from such societies, they would have been utterly effaced by the interesting meetings he had witnessed during a late visit to the scientific institutions in Cornwall. There he found similar establishments in full operation, under the best auspices, and with the best possible effects; and he felt assured that, in proportion as they were adopted and supported in the dense population of this part of England, would they infuse that higher tone of morality and intelligence which forms so striking a feature in the corresponding classes of the community in the southern districts to which he alluded. He then proceeded to repudiate the charge brought against these societies of their having a political and irreligious tendency. He was grieved to say, these gratuitous falsehoods were but too commonly brought against institutions which had for their object the rational pursuits of more extended knowledge, whereby the humblest individual might be raised in the social scale of being-for nothing, he was persuaded, could be more detrimental, he might almost add, more ultimately fatal to religion, than any hint, more particularly if thrown out by those of his own profession, that there could be no safe union between religion and the progress of mental cultivation and rational knowledge. This he well knew was the doctrine of darker ages, when an over influential, and dangerously dominant and intolerant priesthood were aware, that it was only by keeping their flocks in intellectual darkness that their influence could remain unshaken; but amongst us of a more enlightened age of religious freedom, whose very claims and privileges depended so much on the acknowledged right of liberty of judgment, and a more liberal spirit of inquiry, such a sentiment ought not for a moment to be listened to. He concluded by wishing success to the institution, and expressing his earnest hope, that it, and every other similar institution, might be strenuously supported by all who wished to see their country prosper, and more especially by christian ministers of all denominations, whether of his own or other churches or persuasions, who might by so doing incalculably advance the social and religious civilisation and reformation of society at large. The several resolutions having been duly proposed and seconded, the following officers for the ensuing year were then appointed :President J. Brocklehurst, Esq., M.P.; Vice-Presidents - Rev. E. Stanley, Thomas Swanwick, Esq., M.D., and William Hopes, Esq.; Committee-R. Bagshaw, Esq., Messrs. Hulley, J. Sargent, John Shatwell, R. Wilson, J. Thorley, jun., D. B. Curwen, Benjamin Broome, G. Barton, J. Barber, C. Condron, J. Kelly, S. Hill, G. Simpson, Thos. Smith, and W. Wardle. VOL. V.-NO. XVIII. 2 P SHROPSHIRE AND NORTH WALES NATURAL HISTORY AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. A Scientific Meeting of this Society was held at the Museum, on the 1st November, Dr. Du Gard, V. P., in the chair, when the following papers were read :— "On the Natural History of Coal, with Remarks on the Collieries of Shropshire," by Mr. Thomas Blunt. The author traced the history of this mineral substance from a very early period down to the reign of Elizabeth; during which the coal trade flourished greatly, and was regarded as a profitable source both of local and government revenue. From that time to the present day, this branch of our national commerce has been steadily progressing, and coal now forms an important article of expenditure in the support of our mercantile wealth, as well as of domestic comfort and convenience. Between 7 and 8 millions of tons are annually consumed by our manufactories and steam navigation, 3,550,000 tons in the iron works, and in the manufacture of gas in London alone about 500,000 tons; add to which the immense consumption in the glass and pottery works, the amount consumed for domestic purposes throughout the kingdom, and the quantity exported, we shall find a total annual demand for this fuel of upwards of 32,469,570 tons. The resources from whence this immense demand is supplied, appear almost exhaustless, and are comprised in the twelve principle coal-fields of this island, the most important of which are, the Northumberland and Durham, Yorkshire and Lancashire, Stafford and Shropshire, and the extensive one, as yet but little worked, of South Wales. These fields are geographically situated in the middle districts of the kingdom, and geologically in the lower secondary strata, generally resting on beds of transition limestone, and occasionally covered by marl and red sandstone. The principal basin of the South Staffordshire field occupies an area of about 70 or 80 square miles, lying between Stourbridge, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and Walsall. Adjoining this is the Shropshire field, including Coalbrookdale, Ketley, Hadley, and the whole plain of Shrewsbury, comprising from 80 to 90 miles. The seams in these measures are of considerable extent, and in the main coal of Staffordshire some occur 30 feet in thickness, being the richest in the kingdom. The coal mines of Shropshire are severally the property of the Marquis of Stafford, the Earl of Bradford, and the Messrs. Botfield, and are principally let on lease to the different companies who work them. Those of the most importance lie on the eastern border of the county, in the parishes of Lilleshall, Wellington, Dawley, Ironbridge, and Madeley. The upper "Basset," or inferior strata, are generally found at a depth below the surface, varying from 50 to 100 yards, and although not so rich in quality as the coal of the Staffordshire deposits, are yet very superior to the produce of the mines in the centre of the county, of which Welbatch and Westbury are the principal. These latter contain a much less proportion of bitumen, and |