1921] General Monthly Meeting 307 



Royal Institution, to which I return on every possible occasion. In some 

 mysterious way, which the conservators of other scientific establishments 

 must envy, the Managers and the Professor of Chemistry have succeeded in 

 retaining and rendering tangible the very atmosphere of research bequeathed 

 to them by Rumford, Young, Davy and Faraday. In no other Laboratory, 

 however rich in tradition, have I felt so potently the direct inspiration of the 

 masters of the past. The discernment with which their successors have been 

 chosen, and the notable and unbroken progress of the laboratories and 

 lectures, are doubtless the chief factors in this achievement, which must have 

 impressed the thousands who have shared in the privileges of the Institution. 

 Under the circumstances, the Managers will understand why I take very 

 exceptional satisfaction in their award of the Actonian Prize. But in simple 

 fairness to my associates in research at the Kenwood, Yerkes, and Mount 

 Wilson Observatories, I beg permission to point out that a large part of the 

 credit for the work in question belongs to them, because of the important 

 part they have had in it. In order to give tangible expression to my 

 indebtedness, I have requested a Committee to consider and report to me on 

 the best way of expending the sum of One Hundred Guineas for the advan- 

 tage of the members of the Mount Wilson Observatory, who have been most 

 closely connected with the researches referred to by the Managers. I hope 

 this may be accomplished in such a way as to assist in perpetuating here 

 .some of the admirable traditions of the Royal Institution. 



Believe me, 



Yours faithfully, 



(Signed) Geoege E. Hale. 



Sir Joseph John Thomson, O.M. M.A. LL.D. D.Sc. F.R.S., was 

 elected Honorary Professor of Natural Philosophy. 



Sir Ernest Rutherford, D.Sc. LL.D. F.R.S., was elected Professor 

 of Natural Philosophy. 



The Presents received since the last Meeting were laid on the 

 tible, and the thanks of the Members returned for the same, viz. : — 



FROM 



The Secretary of State for India — Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa : 



Memoirs : Botanical Series, Vol. XI. No. 2. 8vo. 1921. 

 Bulletin, No. 97. 8vo. 1921. 

 Accademia dei Lincei, Reale, Roma — Atti, Serie Quinta : Rendiconti, Classe 



di Scienze Fisische, Mathematiche e Naturali, Vol. XXX. 1° Sem. 



Fasc. 4-6. 8vo. 1921. 

 Aeronautical Society, Royal — Journal, April 1921. 8vo. 

 American Geographical Society — Geographical Review, April 1921. 8vo. 

 Asiatic Society, Royal — Journal, April, 1921. 8vo. 

 Astronomical Society, Royal— Monthly Notices, Vol. LXXXI. Nos. 4-5. 8vo. 



1921. 

 Australia, Commonwealth of, Institute of Science and Industry — Bulletin, 



Nos. 19-21. 8vo. 1921. 

 Bankers, Institute of — Journal, Vol. XLII. Part 5. Svo. 1921. 

 Batauia, Royal Meteorological Observatory — Rainfall in Dutch East Indies, 



1918. Svo. 1920. 



