PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY,

In the Old Affembly-Rooms, Groat-Market.

The numerous societies for the promotion of literature and philosophy which have been formed in different parts of Europe in the course of the two last centuries, have not only been the means of diffufing knowledge more extensively, but have contributed to produce a greater number of important discoveries than have been effected in any other equal space of time. The progress that has been made in phyfics and the belles lettres, owes its rapidity, if not its origin, to the encouragement which these societies have given to such pursuits, and to the emulation which has been excited between different academical bodies, as well as among the individual members of fuch institutions. The collecting and publishing the more important communications which have been delivered to them, have saved from oblivion many very valuable discoveries or improvements in the arts, and much useful information in the various branches of science.

It is obvious that Newcastle is a fituation peculiarly well adapted for a literary institution, not only as it poffefses extraordinary advantages for the cultivation of mineral knowledge, in the investigation of its two great natural exports, coal and lead, with their various accompanying strata and matrices, offering fo wide a field for the application of mechanical inventions

tions to the working of the mines and the conveyance of their products; but also as it affords peculiar advantages for chemical investigation, for the establishment and improvement of the various manufactures and ants which depend upon the plenty and cheapness of fuel, and the facility of receiving and tranfmitting their several materials and products, by an extensive commercial intercourse; and confequently as this very intercourse furnishes the curious enquirer with the opportunity of carrying on an extenfive literary correfpondence, and of collecting from every country its important or interesting productions, The ample field, too, which is here still open to the researches of the antiquary and historian, must be obvious to every reader of the former part of this work.

These, and other circumstances having been stated at confiderable length, in a paper printed and circulated in December, 1792, under the title of "Speculations on a Literary Society," a meeting was held at the Affembly Rooms, January 24, 1793; where a committee was appointed to prepare a plan for the formation and government of fuch a society: which being presented to a more general meeting, at the Difpenfary, February 7, (the Rev. Edward Moises, M. A. in the chair) was unanimously approved; and John Widdrington, Esq. was elected the first prefi

dent.

The fociety continued to meet in the Governors'Hall of the Difpenfary, till the adoption of Mr. Moifes' propofal for the establishment of a general library; when it became neceffary to engage apart. ments for their exclusive ufe. These were at first taken in St. Nicholas' church-yard; but the Old Affembly-rooms in the Groat-market falling vacant, the society removed thither in 1798; and are likely to continue in apartments which afford them fuch fuitable and convenient accommodation.

On the death of Mr. Widdrington, in 1798, Sir J. E. Swinburne, bart. was elected president, who continues to fill that office with great advantage to the society.

This fociety is composed of the following classes, viz. 1. Ordinary members, who subscribe one guinea annually; to whom is confined the whole management of the business of the society, and the election of officers and members. 2. Honorary members, who reside at a distance, and correspond with the society, but are not liable to any expence. 3. Honorary members, with the privileges of ordinary ones. Only four of this description are allowed at one time. The intention of the society in instituting this class was for the laudable purpose of encouraging the exertions of deserving persons who discover a taste for literature, but whose circumstances render it incon. venient to incur the expence of the ordinary contribution. Of this last class there are at present three members of the first class, about three hundred; of the second, upwards of one hundred and eighty. ---To this number another new class was instituted, in the year 1799, under the denomination of reading members, who do not attend the meetings of the fociety, but have the use of the library; to which class ladies are eligible.

The fociety is governed by a president, four vicepresidents, two secretaries, and a committee of eight; all chosen annually out of the class of ordinary members. To these are entrusted the expenditure of the funds, the ordering of books, and the domestic eco. nomy of the institution.

The

The general meetings of the society are held in the evening of the first Tuesday of every month. The subjects for their conversation and investigation comprehend the mathematics, natural philosophy and history, chemistry, polite literature, antiquities, civil history, biography, questions of general law and policy, commerce, and the arts; but religion, the practical branches of law and phyfic, British politics, and indeed all politics of the day, are subjects directly prohibited by a very strong clause in their regulations.

A large and valuable library is already collected, and the funds for increasing it are so confiderable, that it may be expected, in a few years, to comprehend every work of importance on the various subjects which come within the plan of the society.---Amongst the books lately added to the library is that learned and extensive work, the Encyclopedie Me. thodique, now publishing in Paris, 238 volumes of which are just finished. Besides the ordinary funds for the purchase of books, many interesting works have been presented to the society. The magazines, reviews, and most periodical publications of merit, lie on the reading table, for the use of the members who daily refort thither. The librarian attends fix hours every day, (Sunday excepted) viz. from twelve till three o'clock in the afternoon, and again from fix to nine in the evening.

The cabinet of the society contains many curiofities, both of nature and art, from different quarters of the globe; to particularize which would greatly exceed our limits; fufficice it to mention a few.---A rich variety of fofsil and mineral productions, with a curious collection of gold, silver, quicksilver, and lead ores and spars. A section of the strata of the low low main coal of St. Anthony's colliery, which is 135 fathoms and one quarter in depth; and a section of the strata fouth of the main dike in Montagu main colliery; with specimens of each, methodically arranged: also sections of strata in Denton and Pontop Pike collieries, with specimens. A large collection of specimens of the feveral hard and foft coals in the counties of Nottingham and Derby, and of the strata accompanying them. Also a fection of strata met with in working the lead mines of Alton Moor and Dufton Fell, in the counties of Cumberland and Westmoreland, to the depth of 241 fathom I foot, with a large collection of specimens, illustrative of the products of the lead-mine districts. Several specimens of cloth made by the natives of the South Sea iflands from the bark of trees, with their dreffes, implements of war, &c. A collection of coins, medals, &c. &c.

The purchase of a philosophical and chemical apparatus, and the collection of a cabinet of natural hiftory, are alfo in contemplation. The completion of these objects cannot fail to have the most beneficial effects on the minds of the rifing generation; for whose benefit, in the mean time, the society has always shewn itself ready to forward any plans for public inftruction, particularly by the encouragement of lecturers in chemistry and experimental philosophy.

Although, in some important respects, this excellent institution has not had all the success which its members might reasonably have expected, particularly, through the multiplied engagements of feveral of the most eminent coal-viewers and others concerned in the coal-trade, having prevented them from afford