18 president's address. 



the education of youth, but for the many and important offices 

 under Government, in which scientific attainments are desirable, 

 as in the departments connected with agriculture, pastoral pur- 

 suits, fisheries, woods and forests, horticulture, mining, metallurgy, 

 geological surveys, &c. . . . But reform in our system of 

 education must begin with our schools, and to reform them is by 

 no means an easy task." 



With regard to the pecuniary value of the Fellowships, as 

 compared with that of Research Fellowships available for 

 investigators in other parts of the world, I am unable to say 

 very much, as the necessary data have not been available. 

 But, remembering that Sir William had practically settled 

 the essential details of his benefaction so long ago as the year 

 1882, the following statement is not devoid of interest. In the 

 year 1881, the Owens College, Manchester, was able for the first 

 time to offer five Fellowships, each of the value of £100, to be 

 awarded, not on the results of examination, but after considera- 

 tion of documentary or other evidence, and with the prospect of 

 a re-appointment for a second, and in like manner for a third 

 year, the successful candidates being expected to devote their 

 time to the prosecution of some special study, &c. Now, the 

 point to which attention may be called is, that in the announce- 

 ment of the results of the first award of these Fellowships in 

 Nature (October 27, 1881, p. 605) it is stated that "These are 

 remarkable as being the only fellowships given in any University 

 or College in the United Kingdom solely for the encouragement 

 of research." No doubt since then there has been considerable 

 development in this direction in Great Britain or elsewhere in 

 Europe, and America; but I am unable to give you details. One 

 thing, however, is certain, the pecuniary value of the Linnean 

 Macleay Fellowships will be very considerable, even perhaps excep- 

 tionally high — a consideration which will be not without its 

 responsibility for all concerned. But this responsibility, after 

 all, will take care of itself, if Fellows accept their Fellowships in 

 the right spirit, and for what they are intended to be — " aids to 



