obtain a sufficiency of that exclusive and concentrated attention, without which no branch of literature or science can flourish.

The science of medals has, consequently, been more neglected in this country than most of its sister branches of knowledge. The most important historic illustrations, founded on a comparison of coins, and of these with other contemporaneous inscriptions, have been habitually overlooked by our best scholars. Collectors have been without a point of reunion to draw them from the privacy of their cabinets, and thereby render their treasures known to the republic of antiquaries, and profitable to the objects of general inquiry-more particularly that relating to the circulating media of nations, which are equally represented by the contents of the cabinet and of the Mint-equally connected with the past and the present, and with the mental and physical necessities of our race. Amateurs have been without a centre of communication, for the exhibition and inspection of the rare and curious specimens of the numismatic art of different ages and countries, which are progressively discovered, but which, from the want of such a medium, have been too often lost to the cause of learning and research. While, it is not less certain that many important views and theories on medallic subjects, and the wide range of inquiry with which these are connected, in the various departments of history, science, and art, have been withheld, or have remained undeveloped, from the want of a medium for the interchange of ideas, and for the reading of communications on such questions.

While the numismatist has felt his favourite study to be debarred from its just rank among the scientific pursuits of the age, one of the most fertile sources of historical knowledge has been, in a great degree, lost to the general inquirer, through the absence of that separate provision for the cultivation of this peculiar branch of research, which has been awarded to nearly every other.

In this respect, the numismatist finds himself still in the predicament in which the cultivators of astronomy, geography, geology, meteorology, zoology, and the whole range of the natural sciences, felt themselves situated twenty years ago; when the Royal Society—the parent of all our institutions-was the common centre of communication. Each found that, with the accumulating data of the times, to obtain the requisite proportion of time and attention for his favourite branch of study, in so mixed an institution, was impracticable. And hence, our representative sections of that institution, in nearly all the departments of natural science; and more particularly that noble section, which itself may be almost said to represent the Royal Society in its best age, and to whose hospitality the embryo Numismatic Society, originating, in several instances, with the founders of the former, is beholden for a roof to shelter it.

History, too, in all its branches, was formerly mingled in the same venerable institution; and in the days of Newton, the astronomer and the antiquary met at the same table. But, as data accumulated, the science of history became jealous of that of nature, and dissatisfied with remaining a mere adjunct. The first schism then occurred, and the Philosophical Transactions and the Archæologia were separated.

Nor was the Society of Antiquaries found sufficient to meet the varied and accumulating demands of ancient literature and modern discovery; and the Royal Society of Literature grew up to meet the emergency. But, although either of these institutions is adapted to the cultivation of numismatic inquiry, as the parent society is to that of the several branches of physical science, the same objection is in force the impracticability of obtaining the proportion of time and attention, which justice to a topic so extensively useful in its bearings on the history of ancient and modern times, requires.

No branch of history or science boasts a greater

number of devoted cultivators in this country, than the numismatic; yet none has been, hitherto, so isolated, from the want of a point of reunion, even among its especial cultivators. It can occupy a secondary place only among the varied subjects of investigation which come before the two great historical societies-a place equally unsatisfying to the wants of history and the wishes of numismatists. To meet these wants and wishes, and to supply a desideratum which is not only British but European, the present institution has, therefore, been originated.

Numismatics have, it must be admitted, been most successfully studied and promoted in the mixed institutions of our continental neighbours; but, the same must be admitted as regards antiquities, history, and science in general; nearly every department of which has its incorporated representative in our metropolis, forced into existence by that classification of energy-that principle of division of labour, mental as well as physical, which distinguishes the genius of our country-to which our great national prosperity, whether political, commercial, or professional, is mainly attributable, and under the influence of which, multiplied associations become a necessary element of British, aud-if of British-of European society.

The following resolutions were then moved, and carried unanimously:

That a Numismatic Society be formed, and that the annual subscription be one guinea; and that it be considered to be due on the first of January in each year.

That the undermentioned gentlemen be requested to accept the office of members of the council for conducting the affairs of the Society, namely:

EDWARD HAWKINS, Esq. F.R.S. F.S.A.

C. F. BARNWELL, Esq. F.R.S. F.S.A..

Captain W. H. SMYTH, R.N. F.R.S. F.S.A. &c.

Sir HENRY ELLIS, F.R.S. F.S.A.
THOMAS BURGON, Esq.

WILLIAM WYON, Esq. A.R.A.

W. D. HAGGARD, Esq. F.S.A. F.R.A.S.

That JOHN LEE, Esq. LL.D. F.R.S. &c. be requested to accept the office of Treasurer to the Society.

That J. Y. AKERMAN, Esq. F.S.A., and ISAAC CULLIMORE, Esq. M.R.S.L. be requested to undertake the office of Secretaries.

EDWARD HAWKINS, Esq. then moved that Dr. Lee be requested to accept the office of President for the year. This resolution was carried unanimously.

It was further moved and resolved, That any gentleman who may be desirous of becoming a member, shall signify the same by a letter addressed to one of the Secretaries before the 26th of January next; and that after that period the admission fee be one guinea, and the election be by ballot.

That each member shall have the privilege of introducing one friend at the meetings of the Society.

That the thanks of the meeting be given to the Royal Astronomical Society, for their kindness in permitting the use of their apartments.

That the first ordinary meeting of the Society be held on Thursday, the 26th January, 1837.

Dr. Lee having quitted the chair,

It was moved by W. D. Haggard, Esq., and seconded by Edward Hawkins, Esq., That the thanks of the meeting be given to Dr. Lee for his able conduct in the chair.

Mr. Hawkins exhibited a bronze medal of Dr. Wiseman, by Mr. Scipio Clint, accompanied by a letter from that gentleman.

The Society then adjourned to Thursday, January 26, 1837, at seven o'clock P.M.

ORDINARY MEETINGS.

January 26th, 1837.

Ar the First Ordinary Meeting of the Society, held in the apartments of the Royal Astronomical Society, Somerset House, on Thursday evening, the 26th January, 1837,—

In the absence of the President, EDWARD HAWKINS, Esq. was called to the chair, when

The Minutes of the previous Meeting were read and approved.

A List of the original members composing the Society, and amounting to upwards of one hundred, was read. DR. LEE presented to the Society

1. One copy of a Descriptive Catalogue of a Cabinet of large Brass Medals. By Captain W. H. Smyth, R.N. &c.

2. A copy of the same work, small paper.

3. A copy of "Coins of the Romans relating to Britain." By J. Y. Akerman, Esq.

4. A Half Daler of Charles XII. of Sweden, in copper. 5. And a five-guinea piece of George II.

The thanks of the Society were ordered to be returned to the donor.

The Secretary then read a communication from Sir Henry Ellis, "On the Popular Error which supposes a Farthing of Queen Anne to be of enormous Value."

The received tradition, which is not confined to the lower orders of life, but pervades even those who mix with the best society, is, that after three impressions had been struck, the die of this farthing flew in pieces; that two of the impressions are known in our cabinets, but that the third has been constantly advertised for, almost from the days of Queen Anne, without success, and still remains a desideratum. At the British Museum scarcely a week