STATE OF OUR LEARNED SOCIETIES. 301 
parent from which nearly all others have sprung, 
and which the public in general considers the most 
honourable, we find no classification whatever of the 
heterogeneous materials of which it is composed. 
Not the slightest distinction is made between the 
man of wealth, who pays his money to gratify his va- 
nity ; the mere dilettante, who feels a pleasure in the 
labours of others; or the accomplished philosopher, 
whose name may be celebrated throughout the world. » 
All these, and many others, are admitted upon the 
same terms ; all must pay an equal subscription, and 
all rank alike. Such, we believe, is universally the 
case with all the metropolitan societies. And in 
proportion as these have multiplied, so have the in- 
conveniences arisen, not to say the insuperable ob- 
stacles, of concentrating the élite of science. If 
there existed a society to which no one could 
belong who did not possess scientific acquirements 
of known and acknowledged merit, it would matter 
but little if it entailed upon its members an annual 
contribution ; because, although payment would be 
one of the requisites, it would not be the first, or 
the only one: the admission in itself would be an 
honour; because it would be placed beyond the reach 
of the most wealthy pretender, and would at oncé 
attach importance toa name. But, in the present 
state of our societies, all the qualifications expressed 
in the certificate of a candidate are, that “he is de- 
sirous of becoming a member, and likely to be a 
useful and valuable one :” the two latter requisites 
being generally interpreted, that he will promote 
the objects of the society, by paying his contri- 
butions regularly. So far as our own experience 
