through the medium of its transactions, and for the patronage and countenance which, at various periods, it has afforded to experimental philosophy. The present illustrious President has set an example of a life devoted to science, which it would be fortunate for the world if it were more frequently imitated by other persons of his rank and independence.

This Society has published above one hundred volume of Transactions.

Society of Antiquaries.

This Society, consisting of a President, Council, and fellows, was incorporated by George II. in 1751, and has rooms adapted to the purpose, in Somerset Place, on the left hand of the entrance under the arch-way.

The room in which the meetings are held is very large and commodious; the library on the ground-floor is small, but so lofty as to be capable of holding a large quantity of books. Over the door is a fine likeness of Dean Milles, the late President, by Miss Black. This room has many curious fragments of antiquity: and, among them, some recently added from Egypt, and others taken from the walls' of the House of Commons, when that building was under repair, and enlarged for the convenience of the Members admitted in consequence of the Union of Ireland.

The Society meet from the beginning of November till the end of Trinity term, on Thursday evenings, when the chair is taken at half past seven o'clock. Members pay, on admission, five guineas, and two guineas per year afterwards; but foreigners of note may be admitted honorary' members, without payment of these sums. Visitors may be admitted by the introduction of a member.

This Society has not only published sixteen volumes of Transactions, but also a great variety of curious engrav ings in English Antiquities.

Literary and philosophical characters converse upon philosophical subjects, new discoveries, and objects of science between the hours of seven and nine every Thursday evening, during the meetings of the Royal Society and Society of Antiquaries, in an outer room of the apartments

in Somerset House, appropriated for their reception, and is exceedingly interesting to every intelligent stranger, who feels any degree of scientific or literary curiosity. About seven, those gentlemen arrive who mean to assist at the meeting of the Society of Antiquaries. They engage, of course, in conversation; and many agreeable and important matters of information are mutually communicated. The membors of the Royal Society enter at eight, when the conversation, turning chiefly on philosophical subjects are renewed and prolonged till nine. A stranger may be introduced to these conversations by a member of either of the two Societies. He will not elsewhere obtain so advantageous an idea of the union of politeness, scientific intelligence, and talents for conversation, in the English cha

racter.

Sir Joseph Banks receives, on every Thursday morning during the Society's meetings, his friends, members of the Society, and gentlemen introduced by them, at a public breakfast, at his house in Soho Square. The literary, and much more, the scientific news of the day, are the topics of the conversations which then take place. New and curious specimens of subjects in antiquities, in natursl history, and in various departments of science, are often prcduced for the inspection of the persons who then assemble.

On every Sunday evening, too, during the meetings of the Royal Society, the same gentleman opens his house for the reception of a conversation-assembly of his literary and philosophical friends, and of all gentlemen, whether natives of this country or foreigners, whom his friends introduce.

Society for Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce.

This edifice is situated in John Street, in the Adelphi, on the south side of the Strand. The exterior is in a noble style of architecture; but that is in a great measure lost, from its being of brick, ornamented with stone, a mixture inconsistent with grandeur. The interior is peculiarly elegant, and very commodious for the uses of the Society. The chief objects of this Society are, to promote 'the arts, manufactures, and commerce of this kingdom, by giving premiums for all useful inventions, discoveries, and

improvements, which tend to that purpose; and in pursu ance of this plan, the Society has already expended upwards of fifty thousand pounds, advanced by voluntary subscriptions of their members, and legacies bequeathed.

The register of the premiums and bounties they have given will shew the great advantages which the public has derived from this Society.

The meetings are held every Wednesday, at seven o'clock in the evening, from the fourth Wednesday in October to the first Wednesday in June. The several committees meet on other evenings in the week during the session.

In order to promote the views of this laudable Society, it may be necessary to explain the mode by which its members are elected.

Each member has the privilege, at any weekly meeting of the Society, of proposing any person who is desirous to become a member, provided such proposal is signed by three members of the Society.

Peers of the realm, or Lords of Parliament, are, on their being proposed, immediately ballotted for; and the name, with the addition and place of abode, of every other person proposing to become a member, is delivered to the Secretary, who reads the same, and inserts the name in a list, which is hung up in the Society's room until the next meeting; at which time such person is ballotted for; and if two-thirds of the members then voting ballot in his favour, he is deemed a perpetual member, upon payment of twenty guineas at one payment, or a subscribing member, upon payment of any sum not less than two guineas annu ally.

Every member is entitled to vote, and be concerned in all the transactions of the Society, and to attend and vote at the several committees. He has also the privilege of recommending two persons as auditors at the weekly meeting of the Society, and, by addressing a note to the housekeeper, of introducing his friends to examine the various models, machines, and productions, in different branches of arts, manufactures, and commerce, for which premiums have been bestowed. He has likewise the use of a valu

able library, and is entitled to the annual volume of the Society's Transactions.

The time appointed for admission to the paintings or models, is from ten to two o'clock, Sundays and Wednesdays excepted.

The Society distributes premiums for any new discovery in agriculture, chemistry, dyeing, mineralogy, the polite arts, manufactures, and mechanics; also premiums for the advantage of British colonies, and for the settlements in the East Indies, and a correspondence in each branch is maintained. and the transactions of the society are published annually.

But that which characterizes this building, and has rendered it, and the Society to which it belongs, celebrated on the continent, is the great room of the Society. This is a fine-proportioned apartment, being forty-seven feet in length, forty-two feet in breadth, and forty feet in height. It is lighted at the top by a dome. The walls are ornamented with a series of exquisite pictures, by the late Mr. Barry, designed to illustrate this maxim, "That the attainment of happiness, individual and public, depends on the cultivation of the human faculties.'

The first picture represents Mankind in a savage state, with its attendant misery;-the second, a Grecian Harvest Home, or a Thanksgiving to Ceres and Bacchus ;the third, the Victors at the Olympic Games ;-the fourth, Navigation;-the fifth, the Society of Arts, &c.—and the last, Elysium, or the State of Final Retribution.

These pictures are among the chief ornaments of this capital, whether national or foreign; and, to the honour of our country, are the productions of the English school.

Strangers will find no difficulty in obtaining admission, by applying to any member of the institution for an order; and the politest attention is shewn to all applicants, by the present able Secretary of the Society, who resides in house.

The Society for the Encouragement of Arts, &c. was instituted in 1753. The idea was suggested by Mr. Shipley, an ingenious artist, and eagerly patronized by the late Lord Folkstone and the late Lord Romney. The institution consists of a President, twelve Vice-Presidents, vari

Y

ous officers, and an indefinite number of subscribers, it be ing supported solely by voluntary subscriptions.

Among many liberal rules of this Society, there is one of peculiar merit, by which strangers are permitted to be present at the sittings of the Society, on the introduction of members: the stranger's name being proposed for that purpose, and no objection made.

The Royal Institution.

The meetings of this Institution commenced in the year 1800, shortly before which the proprietors obtained a charter of incorporation by the name of " THE ROYAL INSTITUTION OF GREAT BRITAIN," for the purpose of facilitating the general introduction of useful mechanical inventions and improvements, and for teaching, by courses of philosophical lectures and experiments, the application of science to the common purposes of life.

The house of the Institution is situated in Albemarle Street, and is extremely spacious, and well adapted to the purposes to which it is applied. On entering the hall on the right, is the room in which the subscribers read the foreign newspapers. This room opens into the reading library, containing periodical publications, and books presented by various gentlemen since the opening of the Institution.

On the left of the hall is the clerk's office; beyond which is the room where the proprietors and subscribers read the English and French newspapers and journals; beyond the hall, is the room which contains the collection of minerals.

Ascending the stair-case, which is extremely beautiful, on turning to the right is the apparatus-room, communicating with the theatre, in which the lectures are delivered, and the road to which is by a gallery surrounding it. The theatre is semicircular, and is fitted up with rising benches, with cushions, for the accommodation of seven hundred persons, and there is a gallery round it which will hold two hundred more.

On the second floor are apartments for the Professor and those persons belonging to the establishment, to which the managers have thought proper to allot rooms for their more convenient attendance.