possess a museum and excellent library. The nucleus of the museum and herbarium was formed by the collection of Linnæus himself. When Smith was a young man he was breakfasting with Sir Joseph Banks, who informed him that Linnæus' collections had been offered to him for 1000 guineas, but that he had no intention of purchasing them. Smith conceived the desire of acquiring them, and with some difficulty prevailed on his father to supply him with money for the purpose. The King of Sweden, Gustavus III., happened to be absent from the country when the negotiations were proceeding, and hearing on his return that a vessel with the collections on board had just sailed for England, he immediately despatched a ship to intercept it. It was too late, and the collections reached England in 1784 in twenty-six cases. The society publishes its transactions, on which many valuable memoirs have appeared. The anniversary meeting is held on the 24th May. Applicants for the fellowship must be proposed by three fellows. The admission fee is £6, and the annual subscription £3. Fellows annex the letters F.L.S. to their names.

THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, Somerset House. Instituted in 1807, incorporated in 1826. This society has been of eminent service to the science of geology, and is well supported by the subscriptions of nearly 900 fellows (F.G.S.), who pay an admission fee of six guineas, and an annual subscription of three guineas. They have a large collection of fossils, and a good library. They publish a quarterly journal, and they have a fortnightly meeting of fellows to hear papers read.

THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, 15 Whitehall Place. Established in 1830. Fellows (F.R.G.S.), admitted by ballot, pay an entrance of £3, and an annual subscription of £2. The society possesses a good collection of books and maps, and publishes a quarterly journal.

THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY, 22 Albemarle Street. Founded in 1823 for the investigation and encouragement of art, science, and literature, in relation to Asia. Their library is rich in oriental MSS. and Chinese books. The museum contains a collection of oriental arms and armour, which may be seen any day, except Saturday, by a member's order. Members resident in the British Isles pay an admission fee of five guineas, and an annual subscription of three guineas. Certain societies in India are branches of this. It publishes its transactions.

SION COLLEGE, London Wall, City, incorporated 1630 for the benefit of the clergy of London, the incumbents of parishes within the city and liberties of London being the fellows. In connection with it are almshouses for twenty poor persons. The library contains upwards of 35,000 vols. This library was one of those that received gratuitously a copy of every book published, but this privilege was abolished, and the library now has an annual treasury grant of £363 instead. An order from a fellow will admit to this library daily from 10 to 4. There are several pictures here, the most noticeable of which is a costumeportrait of a citizen's wife of William and Mary's time.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, 25 Great George Street, Westminster. Incorporated 1828, having been established ten years previously. It is supported by the subscriptions of persons connected with the various branches of civil engineering. Telford, the engineer of the Menai bridge, was the first president, and there is a portrait of him here. There is a good professional library, part of which was the bequest of Telford, who also bequeathed a sum of money, directing the interest to be expended in annual premiums.

ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS, 9 Conduit Street, Hanover Square. Incorporated in 1837. Supported by the subscriptions of fellows and associates. Here is a good library of architectural works, including the works of Piranesi and Canina, and a large collection of original drawings of ancient and modern buildings.

ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE, 4 St. Martin's Place, Charing Cross. Incorporated 1826. Valuable library. Transactions published occasionally.

In addition to the societies already mentioned there are the Royal Astronomical Society, Somerset House.

Statistical Society, 12 St. James's Square.

Zoological Society, whose gardens are described elsewhere in this volume.

Entomological Society, 12 Bedford Row, W.C.

Numismatic Society, 13 Gate Street, Lincoln's-Inn Fields.
Anthropological Society, 4 St. Martin's Place, Charing Cross.
Meteorological Society, 25 Great George Street, S.W.
Chemical Society, Burlington House.

Pharmaceutical Society, 17 Bloomsbury Square, etc. etc.

Till lately there were also several societies for the publication

of scientific works, and the reprinting of old books, such as no publisher could undertake without loss; the Camden Society alone is active.

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 12 Hanover Square, was established in 1838, and incorporated by charter in 1840, for the purpose of improving the agriculture of the country. One annual meeting is held in London, and another in the country. At the latter there is a cattle-show, an exhibition of agricultural implements, and a trial of cultivating machinery. Prizes are awarded, and the affair excites so much interest that crowds of people are attracted from all parts. A quarterly journal is published. The society is supported by the subscriptions of the governors (who pay £5 each annually) and members (who pay £1 each annually). It has been of signal advantage to British agriculture, by pointing out improved systems of cultivation, and explaining the principles to be attended to.

THE SMITHFIELD CLUB is an agricultural association, founded about seventy years ago, which annually in December has an exhibition of cattle and sheep. For many years this took place at the Baker Street Bazaar, but this place was too small for its increased importance, and a structure, called the Agricultural Hall, has been erected in the Liverpool Road, near the Angel, Islington, at which future cattle-shows will be held. The exhibition hall has an area of 384 feet by 217 feet, is covered with a roof of iron and glass, having a span of 130 feet, and has a gallery 36 feet wide all round it. There is also a tower of 95 feet high at each side of the front. In addition, there is a place for the exhibition of pigs, 100 feet square. First and second class refreshment-rooms, lavatories, etc., are attached. The façade, of red and white brick, is Italian. A company found the funds for this structure, which was estimated to cost £25,000, and Mr. Peck of Maidstone furnished the designs. This spacious hall will in every respect meet the requirements of the club, and that body has agreed to lease its exhibition to the company for twenty-one years.

LIBRARIES.

Besides the libraries which have been spoken of in other parts of this volume we must mention

THE LONDON INSTITUTION LIBRARY, occupying a handsome

building (opened in 1819) in Finsbury Circus, which also contains a theatre where lectures are delivered. The library contains about 62,000 vols. The institution was established by the issue of £100 shares, and is supported by annual subscriptions. Porson, the learned Greek scholar, was the first librarian.

THE RUSSELL INSTITUTION, Great Coram Street, Brunswick Square, has been established somewhat on the plan of the London Institution, but on a smaller scale, the library only containing about 16,000 vols.

THE LONDON LIBRARY, 12 St. James' Square, is simply a library with about 80,000 vols., which are lent out to subscribers paying £3 a year, or £2 a year with an entrance fee of £6. There are about 850 members, and the late Prince Consort was patron.

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