Phillpotts, of Porthgwidden, Mr. W. Williams, of Tregullow, Mr. James Baynard, of Falmouth, and other members and friends of the society, to whom your thanks are especially due, as also to Mr. J. Jope Rogers for the loan of specimens of the publications of the Arundel Society.

In Natural History, besides a variety of specimens by youthful collectors, microscopical investigations by Rev. S. Rogers, and evidences of improvement on the part of local taxidermists, Mr. W. P. Cocks furnished some addenda to his former contributions on the Fauna of this district. These and similar Papers may perhaps make little show at the Exhibition, but they fulfil one of the objects of the Society, and tend to raise its character among those who only know it through its annual Report. In confirmation of this, your Committee quote with pleasure some remarks recently published by Professor Bell, on Papers contributed to former Reports by your talented member Mr. R. Q. Couch. After mentioning the investigations of various Naturalists on the metamorphoses of the Decapod Crustaceans, he continues-" but by far the most complete illustrations of the subject and the most extensive proofs of the general law, are afforded by the researches of my friend Mr. R. Q. Couch, of Penzance, who, dissatisfied with the uncertainty and contradictions of former testimony, resolved to investigate the matter for himself; and this he effected with a degree of acumen and perseverance which characterises all his researches, and by which the truth of the doctrine is fully established, as regards the genera Cancer, Zantho, Pilumnus, Carcinus, Portunus, Polybius, Maia, Galathea, Homarus, and Palinurus-a goodly number to have been investigated by one observer-and of some of them he watched every change. These results were published in two memoirs, read to the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society in 1843; in which the Author takes a clear and fair view of the whole subject, and comes to his decision with a host of evidence sufficient to set the substantive question at rest." "I have felt it desirable to give a more extended history of the discovery, as, with the exception of Mr. Couch's first memoir, just referred

C

to, no such digest has ever been placed at one view before the world."

In accordance with the recommendation of an eminent naturalist of the county, your committee propose that two premiums be offered for the best reports of dredging operations on the Cornish coasts. They quote from a letter of the gentleman above alluded to, the following pertinent remarks:-" The naturalists of the Polytechnic Society do not regard this department of their science as a mere matter of curiosity, but think its tendency is to the improvement of our fisheries, which cannot be carried on successfully without some knowledge of even the lowest classes of marine animal life. These form the food, or contribute to the propagation, of our fishes; and the knowledge of them, to be obtained by the use of the dredge, will afford hints that may prove of great use to the fishermen."

The only remaining department of the Exhibition which calls for remark is that which relates to School productions. The specimens of mapping and mechanical drawing were such as keep up the high character which the Cornish schools have already attained and which they undoubtedly owe to the competitive stimulus afforded by your Society.

As has been the case for several years past, your committee have again to record the loss by death, of a valued member and officer of the Society, in the late Mr. E. W. W. Pendarves, M.P., who was always ready to assist you with his advice and by liberal subscriptions when these were necessary.

Your obligation to Mr. H. Mackworth for his Paper on Mine Ventilation has already been referred to; your thanks are also due to Professor Hunt, for Lectures on the Progress of Science and Photographic Manipulation, and for the loan of an extensive and beautiful series of specimens by some of the leading photographic artists of Great Britain; also to Mr. J. A. Phillips, formerly of Putney College and the Museum of Practical Geology, for a communication respecting recent improvements in metallurgical processes. You are further indebted to the liberality of Mr. R. R. Broad, for the ornamental design which fills the window-space

at the head of the hall, and which was painted at his expense, so as to keep back the cross light which came from this window, to the injury of the pictures in the gallery.

To a Society which has given so much of its attention to mining mechanics, and the general condition of the miner, which is still working in the same direction, and receives from the mining interest such valuable support, the present movement towards providing superior scientific education for the miner and the workmen associated with him, must be viewed with much interest. However painful the reminiscences of Cornishmen in reference to the munificent offer made some years since, by your President, for the establishment of a School of Mines for this county, it is pleasing to find that a conviction of the utility of such institutions has now become general, that a desire for their establishment is universally expressed, and that the Government department of the Board of Trade has signified its intention of affording for some years any pecuniary support that may be required. The energetic manner in which this subject has now been taken up, and the well known character of the gentlemen who are engaged in preparing a working scheme, leaves no doubt in the minds of your Committee that the arrangements will be such as to secure not only the establishment of a suitable course of instruction, but that it shall also reach those portions of our population for which it is intended.

In reviewing the proceedings of the society for the past year, your Committee trust that evidence of its continued utility is abundantly afforded, and they are pleased in referring you to the Treasurer's statement as offering proof that it still receives a large and increasing amount of public support. It is with special satisfaction that reference is again made to the donations and subscriptions received from various mines in the county. Though these are given freely, and without conditions of any kind, your Committee feel the obligation they are under to expend these funds with a direct view to mining improvements, and it is suggested in the arrangements which will be made at this meeting, for preparing the list of premiums and prizes for the coming year,

that a sub-committee shall be formed for particularly considering this subject.

Your Committee are unwilling to close the present Report without expressing their high appreciation of the services, both official and extra-official, of their present valued Secretary. They attribute no small share of the success of the last Exhibition, and of the satisfaction which it gave, to his judicious arrangements, and to his courteous and untiring exertions to render it attractive. With these observations your Committee beg to submit their Report for your consideration and adoption.

THE ANNUAL EXHIBITION.

The Twenty-first Annual Exhibition of the Polytechnic Society was opened on Thursday morning, September 22nd, 1853, the President, Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., taking the chair. After some preliminary remarks the eport s of the Judges and Lists of Prizes were called for; commencing with the

MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT.

Mr. J. S. Enys, the chairman of the judges in this department, said he had no written report, but would offer some observations on two or three of the articles sent for competition, as he went through the list of prizes. He considered the Ratchet-spanner, by W. Bosustow, likely to be of much use in cramped places, and the more so as it could be used in either direction, right handed or left handed. The Dibble, by R. Hosking, was very ingenious, but he would recommend that it be brought forward again next year, with some further improvements. One objection to it was that it was made to sow but one seed by each plunger, and it might possibly sometimes miss that one. If it had been made for two seeds, it was true that it might at times sow three; but as an agriculturist he would say that it was preferable to sow two seeds rather than one only. A Shifting-joint and Set-off might probably come into use if it could be made, as was proposed, by a smith, without the aid of a slotting machine. Mr. Enys then directed attention to some tables ornamented with sea-weed, by Miss Pearce of Launceston; and to a machine for cutting up meat for sausages, by J. Oram, of Devonport. The model of a draw-bridge, by Samuel Luke, of Hayle, was on a principle which had been extensively applied on the Continent, and also at Hull: but as it was very unlikely that Samuel Luke had ever seen or heard of these