PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY AND AFFILIATED 



SOCIETIES 



THE WASHINGTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



The 80th Meeting of the Washington Academy of Sciences was held 

 at the Cosmos Club, Wednesday evening, December 18, 1912. 



Dr. L. 0. Howard gave an illustrated lecture on The danger from 

 imported plants and fruits, and government efforts to avoid it. The life 

 history of many accidentally imported injurious insects and the ravages 

 they work were illustrated and explained. The best methods of keep- 

 ing these pests in at least partial control were described. The last Con- 

 gress passed a law that enables an effective quarantine to be established 

 against insect pests of all kinds. 



Dr. Howard also gave an account, which follows in full, of the cele- 

 bration of the 250th anniversary of the Royal Society of London, to 

 which he was the official delegate of the Academy. 



W. J. Humphreys, Secretary. 



The 250th anniversary celebration of the Royal Society, Loyidon, Jidy 

 15-19, 1912: L. 0. Howard, Delegate of the Washington Academy of 

 Sciences. 



To the President and Members of the Washington Academy of 

 Sciences : I beg to submit a report on the two hundred and fiftieth anni- 

 versary celebration of the Royal Society, and in submitting this report 

 beg to express my deep gratitude to the President and to the Board of 

 Managers of the Academy for the appointment as delegate to this 

 extraordinary function, which has given me one of the pleasantest 

 experiences of a lifetime. 



In talking recently with one or two members of the Academy, I have 

 been rather surprised to find that they know little of the history of the 

 Royal Society. One of them has even assured me that some time ago 

 he attempted to read up on the subject, but was unable to find a com- 

 petent historical sketch. Now I have no doubt that if one were to 

 consult that much advertised but none the less reasonably competent 

 Encyclopaedia Britannica full information on this important subject 

 would be found. Since, however, there is undoubtedly a lack of infor- 

 mation, it may be well to state briefly, by way of preliminary, certain 

 facts which were brought to the writer's attention in the course of the 

 memorable week follo^\dng July 15, 1912. 



The Royal Society is the oldest scientific society in Great Britain, 

 and one of the oldest in Europe. It is usually considered as having 



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