On two new genera of crustaceous animals, discovered by Mr. JOHN CRANCH, in the expedition to Congo..... 169 On Three new genera of the Malacostraceous Crustacea, belonging to the family Squillade; by WILLIAM ELFORD LEACH, M. D. F. R. S. &c. Honorary Member of the On the genus Megalophthalmus, a new and very interesting genus, completely proving the theory of JULES-CÆSAR SAVIGNY, to be correct; by WILLIAM ELFORD Leach, M. D. F. R. S. &c. Honorary Member of the Plymouth VI.-Antiquarian investigations in the forest of Dartmoor, Devon; by SAMUEL ROWE, B. A. Member of the Plymouth Institution............ VII.-On Persian Poetry; by Mr. NATHANIEL HOWARD, Honorary Member of the Plymouth Institution.. . . . . . .. VIII.-An account of the collection of drawings of CoL. HAMILTON SMITH, F. R. S. F. L. S. &c. &c. &c. and ERRATA. Page 47,-Note, 5th line from bottom, for framed plate, read frame and plate. 64,-line 1, for necessary consequence of, read perfectly consistent with. · 96,—for Attractive force, read every where Attractive force of the free action. 295, line 6, for Gen.-EAGLES, insert Subg.-Eagles. Subg. (Spoonbills.)— Gen.-SPOONBILLS. 324, .340, 23, 20, Note-Mr. Prideaux's paper having been printed two years, and written more than three, contains many geological terms which have gradually become obsolete; but as they are still understood, it has not been thought necessary to particularize them. TRANSACTIONS. A DISCOURSE, DELIVERED AT THE OPENING OF THE PLYMOUTH ATHENÆUM, FEBRUARY 4TH, 1819, BY ROBERT LAMPEN, M. A. MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY. Omnes in universum monitos volumus, ut scientiæ veros fines cogitent; nec eam aut animi causa petant, aut ad contentionem, aut ut alios despiciant, aut ad commodum, aut ad famam, aut ad potentiam, aut hujusmodi inferiora, sed ad meritum et usus vitæ, eamque in Charitate perficiant et regant. BACON. THE occasion on which we now meet, is most interesting to all who have watched the progress of the Plymouth Institution with a friendly solicitude. It is impossible to take possession of this Athenæum, the result of your perseverance, and the public memorial of your zeal, without feeling satisfied, that the classical elegance of this edifice will not be suffered to remain an evidence of hopes, rather than of attainments; but that every exertion will be used to secure all that it seems to promise. For, without any extravagant estimate of the past, you may cherish the remembrance of your efforts hitherto, however unpretending, as contributions towards the local facilities of improvement; and you cannot but look with confidence to the stronger claims to support, which a continuance of such exertions must enable your Society to prefer. It may be your praise to have given stability to an Institution uniting A social with intellectual enjoyment, and affording motives to exertion, and means of acquiring knowledge, which seldom stimulate and assist the labours of the solitary student.Neither could I be accused of unjustifiable partiality, if I were to assert, that local attachment may be allowed to influence our anticipations. It cannot be unworthy our zeal to promote the intellectual character of a town, distinguished by its national importance, and by the residence of men, estimable in literary accomplishments, and the pursuits of science and the arts. It is however so easy to transgress the limits which separate the reasonable from the visionary, that we cannot be too cautious in our speculations on the future, if we take care not to damp the ardour which is essential to the continuance of energy. Will it be said that I go beyond the bounds of allowable expectation, when I confess, that surrounded as I now am, by many respectable individuals, united by the common desire of improving the best possession of their nature, I foresee much invaluable enjoyment gladdening the privacy of domestic life; much elevation of character bestowed on social intercourse; many innocent resources afforded to diversify the occasional sameness, to relieve the frequent anxieties, and to ennoble the daily pleasures of existence? There are indeed some, who look with less complacency on the progress and effects of mental acquirements; but I have now the sa tisfaction of addressing those who partake in one feeling of congratulation and encouragement. The very circumstance of our assembling here, proves that we all calculate on the further progress of those powers which have hitherto been progressive; and that we sot a proper value on the increase of our intellectual wealth. Without being misled by any visionary hopes, the experienced possibility of improvement must always afford delight to the benevolent friends of mankind.In thus looking forward to the advancement of society in all rational habits and happiness, we insensibly make the future an object of the most lively interest, for we identify its promises with the most affectionate wishes of our hearts. In our |