THE ROYAL SOCIETY. 435 
inasmuch as it virtually excludes many of the high- 
est fame, who would otherwise, in all probability, be 
enrolled amongst its members, and give to the So- 
ciety that honour which is the vital spark of its 
existence. And why should these enormous fees 
be continued, not merely by the Royal, but by the 
Antiquarian and the Horticultural Societies? Why 
should they be higher than those demanded by the 
Astronomical and Zoological, or even by the Geolo- 
gical or Linnean? Each of these societies publish 
their Transactions as frequently, and are subject 
(as far as we know) to the same necessary expenses 
for their management ; and surely, when so sore an 
evil has been hinted at, as it would appear, from the 
president's chair *, it behoves the council to take 
the matter into their serious consideration. 
(300.) We neither know, or much desire to know, if 
any and what steps have been taken to remedy those 
defects of internal administration, charged against the 
Royal Society, by those whose opinions are already 
before the public. We are satisfied that an efficient 
reform must commence with removing great griev- 
ances, and then proceeding to the lesser subjects of 
complaint. When it is considered, that the society, . 
as a body, has little or no political influence (for it 
could not save the board of longitude), and that its 
executive members, from deriving no pecuniary re- 
compense from the government 1, are obliged to give 
* Anniversary address of H.R.H. the President, for 
1832, p. 31., concluding sentence. 
+ The secretaries only have a small stipend— much too 
smal] — paid by the society. 
FF 2 
