1899.] Centenary Commemoration, 1799-1899. 201 



that be intended an institution of a more practical or industrial 

 character than the Institution now was. But changes had taken 

 place. Facilities for communicating new discoveries were one 

 hundred years ago few ; competition was less keen ; there was then 

 much dislike of innovation and there was extreme jealousy with the 

 working classes of any reduction of manual labour. It was thus 

 necessary to popularise discoveries ; and that was the aim of their 

 founder. But now every such discovery was soon heralded to the 

 public. Popular magazines had now articles on the manufacture of 

 liquid air and other subjects of an abstruse character. Towards this 

 wide diffusion of science the Eoyal Institution had largely contri- 

 buted. Their principal objects were research, for which their labora- 

 tories gave such ample means and in respect of which special gratitude 

 was due to Dr. Mond for his noble gift, and to Mr. Spottiswoode for 

 his collection. The second object was to bring the results of research 

 to the knowledge of those who could appreciate them, and these results 

 were expounded in the evening lectures of the Institution. Thirdly, 

 this knowledge was popularised by the afternoon lectures ; and finally 

 the rising generation were stimulated by the juvenile lectures to those 

 who, it was hoped, were destined to take their part in future scientific 

 investigation. They had an admirable library of the subjects which 

 they sought especially to promote. They did not limit their interest 

 to pure science, but literature and history had also been the subjects 

 of admirable discourses by acknowledged masters. Lastly, he would 

 venture to say that nothing would be heard in the Institution which 

 could wound the most sensitive in the subjects of history, moral 

 philosophy, or religion. Lord Kayleigh, Professor Dewar, and others 

 had shown that the ordinary wants of mankind were not foreign 

 to their purposes. Their gratitude on this occasion was due to the 

 Merchant Taylors' Company for the use of their beautiful hall. 



The toast of " The Guests " was proposed by the Lord Chancel- 

 lor, who observed that he presumed the toast was entrusted to him as 

 one who had sat as a very diligent listener at the feet of some of those 

 Gamaliels of science he saw around him. It was unnecessary for 

 him to add much to what had already been said by those taking part 

 in the proceedings as to the importance of the Royal Institution, for 

 all would recognise the incalculable benefits it had conferred on all 

 who came within the sphere of its influence. He had some difficulty 

 in proposing the toast, because he was not certain as to how many 

 present belonged to the scientific family they designated the Eoyal 

 Institution ; but he would couple the toast with the names of two of 

 their guests who came from over the sea — Mr. S. P. Langley, Secre- 

 tary of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, and Professor A. 

 Cornu, Officier de la Legion d'Honneur, Membre de l'lnstitut, 

 France. 



Mr. S. P. Langley said, I could wish that another, whose words 

 would carry more weight than mine, were here to respond to these 



