REMARKS ON THE LONDON SOCIETIES. 429 - 
ing only upon those points which regard the well- 
being of our respective societies, which are most con~ 
ducive to effect the objects they have in view, and 
which are sanctioned both by reason and experience. 
With these feelings, we shall now proceed to offer 
a few remarks on the chief metropolitan societies 
and institutions formed for the promotion of natural 
sciences, and more especially natural history: viz. 
the Royal Society of Great Britain, the Linnzan 
Society, the Zoological Society, and the Entomo- 
logical Society. The Geological Society will be 
altogether omitted: first, because it more concerns 
the mineral than the animal kingdom ; and, secondly, 
because its laws and its management appear to be 
so admirable, that they may be looked upon as a 
model for all others. 
. (296.) The defects in the management of the 
Royal Society have already been touched upon; 
they have been treated of in more detail by Pro- 
fessor Babbage, and have been intimated by Sir 
James South. There is one censure, however, 
brought against the society by the Quarterly Re- 
view, which may be here repeated, as it is passed 
not merely upon the Royal, but upon all the lead- 
ing societies of London. It is, that “ they have 
not employed their influence, with the government, 
either in’ staying its destroying arm, or calling 
into action its powers of doing good, or in de- 
manding its bounty for those distinguished men who - 
were especially placed under its patronage.” * But 
this censure, just though it be, attaches more to 
* Quarterly Review, p. 330. 
