a like space, since the first line of history was written. And, being notably a community of runners to and fro' upon the face of the earth, and that most among the least advanced and most teachable of mankind, our teaching by example probably runs through its growth, from bud to seed, far oftener and more widely than we can readily conceive. Great, undoubtedly, is the moral power we already wield. It comes from God. Deus nobis hæc otra fecit. It has been earned, or we should not have it. It must be worthily used or we shall not retain it. And worthily to use we must bear in mind that its uses are expansive, and demand of us expanded views of its application. The intellectual and moral position, powers and duties-local, national and world-wide-of the 600,000 souls now making their way from the cradle to the grave on the banks of the Mersey, are very different from those of the 5,000 who thence fished and traded along the neighbouring coasts, and had not even a highway towards London, two centuries ago. The conclusion is obvious-too serious to be otherwise than offensive to the frivolous-too sure and too grand not to absorb and to reward the attention of the earnest and the hopeful. To us, or to those amongst us who shall prove worthy of the trust, are confided, in these passing years, the destinies of a great and growing community. We may come like passing pedlars to our appointed work, intent only on pelf, and our own poor prosperity. We may, if we choose, so continue. But we are under the laws of the Omnipotent; and shall be meted to with our own measure. By these laws alone can we gather a penny, or enjoy a meal, or live till next day to repeat the process. But if some of us did not do more, we should not any of us long do this-and they who do this only, however cleverly they may do it, are very far from being the most fortunate of men, or the most worthy of respect. Days are, that years may be, and years that the race may run its course-not that its individual members may eat, drink, make merry and be gone. And even as a mercantile community had we not amongst us many who habitually, however dimly, look a good way beyond and around the business of the passing day, and while using the divine laws to their lower ends, take heed to observe and to serve also their higher, our prospects would not long be otherwise than dismal. Need I then add that one of the noblest uses of such meetings as the present, is to aid the tendency of the thoughtful amongst us, to look out from our immediate selves and our own concerns-to search out and to mark for instruction the relations of our locality to the rest of the worldand thus take a higher and better part in that service of God to which we are all alike called: the ennoblement of our own souls, and the elevation of our race. One use more of such meetings I have yet to advert to. It is the best of all. But all very good things come to us encumbered with a drawback, or a doubt. In this case it is a doubt. So far as our meetings are effective, we may safely assume that they promote the intelligence of those who attend them. Let us then set it down as proved, at least to our own satisfaction, that the Historic Society is in its way, promotive of the intellectual progress of its members. But what then? We all know- —or all have heard ofthe lagging curse that follows, and is never far behind, the intelligence that finds no due application. Solomon asked only for wisdom; and many other things were added to him, through this or otherwise. Yet he failed, grossly failed, in duty; and fell, deeply and irretrievably, into wrong-doing. A magnificent example of a common sin unworthy use of power. Bacon says "Knowledge is Power." It is the most potent, the most easily created and transmitted, the least perishable, and the most variously applicable of all powers. But is it always a benefit to those who possess it-and is it always a benefit to their neighbours? We are very generally persuaded that, all things considered, it is both. But the persuasion is one of faith; and does not yet amount to conviction. For it would seem also, that neither knowledge nor any other form of power is good in itself that all depends upon its uses; and that the true question is-how does the cultivation of the intellect affect the moral character? Efforts, marked by considerable skill, but yet attended with little success, have been made, to prove that crime is diminished by education. But the problem grappled with in these enquiries, is in some material respects not the same as ours; and no great profit could be here hoped for from the clearest and closest analysis of all that has yet been brought to light by such efforts. There are, however, some considerations, obvious enough to claim attention at the very threshold of the subject, and weighty enough to be worthy of remembrance, whenever our attention may be this way turned. It is said that commerce lowers the standard of morals, as regards all the generous virtues. And it is true that generosity in the uncivilised state is to a great extent replaced by philanthropy in the civilised. It suggests Poor Laws, Orphan Schools, and Hospitals. Methods, these, by which our generosity becomes vicarious. We are charitable by deputy. We effect the object-relief of the sick, the poor, and the helpless-perhaps more completely. On the other hand, we lose the best effect of all charitable work: the moral effect upon the doer of good who does his good things in person. But, further, the effect does not satisfy us. With better intelligence we begin to perceive that to relieve misery is not enough. The sufferer has a right to more than our alms. He has a right to such help as we can give to free him altogether from his misery. And we can give him this help only by removing the causes of the misery itself. No matter what these causes may be. It may be that they are not removable. Some think so. But until this be proved we are bound to search for means of removing them. We are bound to give our minds as well as our money, to the duty of charity. The laws which regulate, and under which are produced, all the causes of suffering yet known to society, are, we may safely assume, capable of being themselves known. When known, they will constitute what is called "The Social Science The building up of this science is the work of the intellect. And as its purpose is essentially to enable us the better to perform our social duties, the conclusion is unavoidable that, whatever may be the observed effect of partial advances, made by individuals, in intelligence, the general effect of every such advance, in commerce or otherwise, must be, by revealing more clearly the harmony of our duty with our interest, to promote, and that on the only sure basis, a perfect development of our moral nature. Let us hope-but not as those who hope only-that the Historic Society may, some day, worthily take a distinguished place among the learned societies which have comprehended and compassed this, the noblest use to which human institutions can be devoted. PROCEEDINGS. ELEVENTH SESSION, 1858-59. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. St. George's Hall, 18th October, 1858. MAJOR-GENERAL THE HON. SIR EDWARD CUST, PRESIDENT, in the Chair. The Secretary read the following REPORT. The In recording the history of the Society during the Tenth year of its existence, the Council have the pleasure of announcing that its previous career of uninterrupted success has continued, and that it now numbers about 500 ordinary members. accession of the late Photographic Society has contributed to this result; and the Council believe that, while thus increasing its numerical strength, the importance and usefulness of the Society as a scientific body will also be augmented by the consequent addition of a new subject of research. The Council have to report the usual' per centage of diminution by resignation and death. Amongst the vacancies arising from the latter cause they regret having to record the name of Mr. Dawson Turner, who had been an honorary member since the 6th of February, 1851. The annual volume is now about to be issued. Its publication has again been delayed beyond the usual period; but this delay has principally arisen from the variety and extent of its contents, and the consequently increased labour involved in the printing. It will be found to contain a series of papers to which the Council refer with satisfaction, as indicating by their character and execution the resources of the Society in its various sections. The concluding paper, by Mr. George Scharf, jun., is profusely illustrated from woodcuts kindly lent for the purpose by their respective owners. Hitherto the volume has been issued to the members on conditions which have been found injurious to the interests of the society; but at a special general meeting held on the 4th of March last, Law 16, which regulates its distribution, was altered so as to restrict the delivery to those only whose subscriptions for the current session are paid up. The law, as amended, will be found in the appendix to volume X.; which also contains a brief record of the Annual Excursion, and a notice of the proceedings at the meeting held in the Museum of British and Foreign Antiquities, on the kind invitation of the proprietor, Mr. Mayer. During the last Session the number of articles added to the Museum has been comparatively small; but the additions to the Library have kept pace with the expansion of the Society in other respects, and the Council have the gratification of recording amongst the new contributions a series of publications of the Historic Society of Lower Saxony, and another of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, U.S.A. Owing principally to this increase, they have found it necessary to exchange the room formerly rented by the Society at 57, Ranelagh Street, for one more commodious in the same building, where the books, &c., are now arranged. The room will be open every evening of meeting from five till within a few minutes of seven, and members who cannot attend may obtain books by a written application to the Assistant Secretary. The Treasurer's balance sheet shows the receipts for the year to have been £377 1s., which sum, added to the balance from last year, amounting to £14 5s. 11d., shows a gross total of £391 6s. 11d. to the credit of the Society. The entire payments amount to £381 1s. 9d., leaving in hand a balance of £10 5s. 2d. There have been no extra charges of importance, except those arising from the increased cost of the volume, owing to its greater bulk and the number of illustrations. The arrears are large, but the Council have reason to hope that the labours of a Finance Committee, recently appointed, will have the effect of diminishing them. Agreeably to the laws, the names of six gentlemen are submitted for appointment to the various sections, in lieu of those who retire from the Council. It was then moved by the Rev. DR. HUME, seconded by P. R. M'QUIE, Esq., and resolved unanimously: That the Report now read be adopted, and printed and circulated with the The following Statement of Accounts by the Treasurer having been read, It was moved by P. R. M'QUIE, Esq., seconded by JOSEPH MAYER, Esq., and resolved unanimously: Dr. That the Treasurer's Statement of Accounts be passed, and printed and circulated with the Proceedings of the Society. THE HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE in Account with ... 48 6 0 10 10 0 THE VOLUMES: £ s. d. Vol. ix.-T. Brakell, deli Balance from last Account very & postage £7 13 7 Do., binding 3 2 6 Sir T. Tobin, for Annual Subscriptions Arrears Life Memberships 2 10 6 10 10 0 4 9 6 020 £391 6 11 £391 6 11 AUDITORS. |