1893. NOTES AND COMMENTS. 3 
rolling in mahogany cases from one end of the table to the other, 
provoked the thirst of the drinkers. 
‘«To give more liveliness to the scene, the president announced 
the health of the prince of Wales; this was his birth-day. We then 
drank to the elector palatine, who was that day to be admitted a 
member of the Royal Society. The same compliment was next paid 
to us foreigners, of whom there were five present. 
‘¢ The members of the club afterwards saluted each other, one by 
one, with a glass of wine. According to this custom, one must drink 
as many times as there are guests, for it would be thought a want of 
politeness in England to drink to the health of more persons than one 
at a time. 
“ A few bottles of champaign soon put all the company in good 
humour. The tea came next, with butter, marmalade, and all its usual 
accompaniments; coffee followed, humbly yielding precedence to the 
tea, though it be the better of the two. In France, we commonly 
drink only one cup of good coffee after dinner ; in England they drink 
five or six times that quantity of the most detestable kind. 
‘«‘ Brandy, rum, and some other strong liquors closed this philo- 
sophic banquet, which terminated at half-past seven, as there was to 
be a meeting of the Royal Society at eight o’clock. Before we left 
the club-room, the names of all the guests were written on a large 
sheet of paper, and each of us paid seven livres four sols French 
money : this was not dear. 
‘“‘T repaired tothe Society along with Sir Joseph Banks,—Caven- 
dish, Dr. Maskelyne,—Aubert, and Sir [Henry] Englefield ; we were 
all pretty much enlivened, but our gaiety was decorous. 
‘Doubtless, I should not wish to partake of similar dinners it 
they were to be followed by settling the interests of a great nation, 
or discussing the best form of government; such a conduct would 
neither be wise nor prudent; but to meet, to celebrate the admission 
of an elector palatine, who has, besides, much merit, to a learned 
Society, is not a circumstance from which any inconvenience can 
result.” 
Circumstances, as we have said, have changed much since the 
time of St. Fond’s travels,and we can only hope that the conservatism 
of the older learned Societies will ere long be compelled to yield to 
the spirit of the age. 
NaTIONAL MUSEUMS. 
AN article of some importance ‘“‘On our National Art Museums 
and Galleries” is contributed by Sir Charles Robinson to the Nime- 
teenth Century for December, 1892 (p. 1025), and many of his remarks 
will apply equally well to the National Scientific Collections. While 
fully appreciating the zeal with which the officers in charge of the 
various museums perform their duties, and while duly acknowledging 
the gratifying progress that is being made, Sir Charles laments the 
want of a central controlling organisation to direct the whole and 
prevent unnecessary duplication of specimens :—‘ It is little to say that 
in our museum system everything is in a chaotic state, everything 
drifts fortuitously ; there is no central overruling and directive power, 
no bond of union, and scarcely any intercommunion between one 
Biz 
