xvi Proceedings. [February ijth,i goo. 



showed that 'atmospheric' nitrogen was denser than 'chemical' 

 nitrogen, an anomaly which might be explained by the existence 

 of some inert gas heavier than nitrogen in the atmosphere. 

 This exjjlanation he verified, in conjunction with Professor 

 Ramsay, by the isolation of argon from the air." 



"A Dalton Medal (struck in 1864) is awarded to Sir H. E. 

 Roscoe, F. R.S., on whom it had been bestowed for his remark- 

 able original researches in Chemistry, and for his distinguished 

 services to scientific education. 



Among his many researches, stress may be laid on the 

 investigations carried out, at first in conjunction with Professor 

 Bunsen, on the chemical action of light ; the results obtained 

 are not only of great theoretical interest, but have given a 

 practical means of measuring the chemical intensity of different 

 sources of light. Of still more importance are the researches 

 by which he proved that tlie substance known to chemists 

 since the time of Berzelius as vanadium was really a compound, 

 and that the true vanadium (which he was the first to isolate) 

 is a member of the nitrogen family of elements. 



Secondly, it is desired to recognise the great influence 

 exerted by Sir Henry Roscoe on the progress of Science, both 

 by his long-continued efforts to extend and reorganise the system 

 of scientific education in this country, as WfW as by the valuable 

 educational works he has written. 



Lastly, among his many services to this Society, it is 

 appropriate to mention his careful study and elucidation of 

 Ualton's note-books in the Society's possession, by which he 

 has made clear for the first time the origin and growth of 

 Dalton's atomic theory." 



"The Wilde Premium for 1900 is awarded to Professor 

 A. W. FUix, M.A., for his papers on ' The Costs of Sea Transport 

 in proportion to Values of Cargoes,' and 'The Fall in Prices 

 durmg the past Twenty Years,' printed in vol. xli. of the Memoirs." 



The presentations were briclly acknowledged by Lord 

 Rayleigh, Sir H. E. Roscoe, and Professor Flux. 



Lord Raylkkih then delivered the Wilde Lecture on 

 "The Mechanical Principles of Flight." 



The lecture is printed in lull in the Memoirs, 



