The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-16 00:00:00

Speculative Society of Edinburgh,.

The opening meeting of the hundredth session
was held in the College of Edinburgh on Wednes-
day. There were about 70 members present, in-
cluding Lord Brougham. The secretary read the
minute of the last meeting, at which it was resolved
to confer the diploma of honorary membership upon
Lord Glenelg, the Lord Justice-General, and Prin-
cipal Sir David Brewster. A letter was read from
Lord Glenelg, expressing his gratitude for the
honour of being advanced to the honorary member-
ship of thb society, and at the same time expres-
sing his regret that the state of his health precluded
him from showing his gratitude by personal attend-
ance at the present meeting. Tho degree having
been conferred on the Lord Justice-General and
Sir David Brewster, the following resolution
was carried with acclamation :—" That the mem-
bers of the Speculative Society desire to record
their gratification at the presence of one of
their most illustrious members, the Right
Hon. Lord Brougham, on this occasion, and
to offer to him their hearty thanks for the many
services and kindly offices which, during the long
period
that has elapsed since he became an ordinary
the ln the
member, he has rendered tosociety."
evening the society held a centenary commemora-
tion dinner in the Douglas Hotel, Lord Brougham
presiding. About 100 gentlemen sat down to din-
ner. On the right of the chairman were—The Lord
Justice General,
oreiff, an
Sir G. Clerk, Rev. Sir H. W. Mon-
d Lord Neaves ; and on the left, Sir David
Brewster,
Sir W. Gibson-Craig, Mr. Sergeant Shee,
and Lord Ardmillan. The Lord-Advocate was
croupier; and was supported by Lord Curriehill,
the Right Hon. Joseph Napier, M.P., Mr. Mure,
m.p., Lord Deas, Professor Aytoun, Mr. H. M.
Inglis, Mr. Campbell Swinton, &c. After dinner
Lord Brougham, gave the usual loyal toasts, taking
occasion to notice that his Royal Highness Prince
Alfred, who was to attend the winter session at the
Edinburgh University, had expressed his desire to
become a member of this society. The Lord-Advo-
cate gave "The Navy, Army, and Volunteers," after
which Lord Brougham gave "The Speculative;So-
ciety," remarking that himself and Lord Glenelg
were the only survivors of the great and distin-
guished class who frequented the society at the end
of the last and very beginning of the present MU-
' turf. He combined with the toast the Historical
Society of Dublin, which had always maintained
the closest relationship with this society, and which
was represented on this occasion by hie friend 31r.
Napier. The right hon. gentleman having replied,
Sir George Clerk proposed " The College of Jus-
tice." • The Lord Justice-General acknowledged,
the toast, and gave "The health of Lord Brougham,
remarking that the life of the noble lord never could
be measured by the number of years, however great"
that may have passed over his head, for whetkow,
looked to the number and variety of his works,
.t
say
truly the success that had attended them, we might
truly of him that in his time he had lived
many
lives; that his mind had done the workr such
as
minds ; and that his achievements 7c.e, but
might have rendered famous
many men. (Loud and prolong:::
h never could
Lord Brougham, in reply, said he had spent
forget the many happy hourzord eaves gave
cheering.)
and Principal
in the Speculative Societb7;ro,,,
" The University of Swinton having
Brewster replied. Mr:,
rlianient," Lord Brougham
given "Both Houses ofor;
Lords. said---" It has
replied for the House
been often thought tbs t the House of Lords expose
. twhen they d*
co tiler from
themselves justly to
unity, but very often
found, on Whenon theycalat
°rimed
the rest of th
are most comPA6-n-
-ideration, that they are in the
exam' It is perfectly
hr (cheers.,. impossible to
rig—. free Constitution—that cons
is to say a Con.
; n removed, on the one hand, from
etitut•°- ana, the
tyranny of an individual, and, on the other, from
maintain
and
m
the worse tyranny of a mob (hear, hear, and
cheers)—without a respectable and responsible body
like the aristocracy of the country, of which the
'louse of Lords is the main though not the only
represeut4tive."
(Loadof echo: rms .0)n s
.M
hlkeitiEroer,
replied for the House
d Ad-
vocate gave
Shee responded The English Bar," and Mr. Sergeant
ponded ; and several other toasts appro-
priate to the occasion were given and cordially
received.

The detachments of the Royal Engineers selected
from the various depot companies at headquarters,
Chatham, to augment the companies at the several
home stations, were inspected at the Royal Engi"
neer establishment, Brompton, yesterday,
by Col.
H. D. Harness, C.B.
The Naples journals announce that last week at
Pompeii, in removing the earth in the rooms which wero
discovered at the time of the visit of the Duchess of
Genoa,
several necklaces were found, ornamented with Precious
stones.