( 160 ) [Jan., 



THE KOYAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 



We have received two circulars relative to a change which is 

 about to be made in the mode of publishing the Transactions of 

 the above Society. It appears that in future they are no longer 

 to be published under the auspices of the Society in the well-known 

 ' Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science,' edited by Dr. Lankester 

 and his son, but in a new monthly journal to be issued by Mr. Hard- 

 wicke and edited by Dr. Lawson. We shall be glad to see both 

 these journals thrive. Of the continued success of the old journal 

 we have no doubt, more especially as the wholesome competition 

 about to be created will stimulate editors and publishers. Of the 

 new one we can of course say nothing at present. Our object in 

 referring to this circumstance is, however, not so much to direct the 

 attention of microscopical observers to it, as to express the opinion 

 that a Society which has been at the trouble and expense of obtaining 

 a Eoyal Charter of incorporation, and which has changed its members 

 into " Fellows," should publish its own transactions independently 

 of any periodical, however respectable and useful it may be. 

 Whilst the Society was content to pursue its labours unostentatiously, 

 and when all the members were charged the moderate annual 

 subscription of a guinea, the publication of its transactions in some 

 periodical was justifiable, but after the changes which have been 

 made (whether they were proper or not is a matter of taste), we 

 think it hardly consistent that the transactions should serve as a 

 shuttlecock for rival publishers. If our anticipations should not 

 be fulfilled, and it should be found that the circle of microscopical 

 readers is not sufficiently extended to support a second journal, then 

 the members will have to be referred back to the old journal, or to 

 some new literary froUge of the council, and any one desirous of 

 binding the Proceedings continuously, iind placing them for reference 

 upon his shelves, must take with them whatever may appear in the 

 journal in which they have been published. But there is even a 

 more serious objection than this. Recent events elsewhere have 

 shown that connections of this kind are not conducive to good feel- 

 ing amongst the members of the council of a learned society, and 

 we should indeed be sorry to see dissatisfaction arise in this one, 

 which might necessitate a '' Committee of Inquiry," accompanied 

 as such proceedings usually .are, by all the amenities of a scientific 

 controversy. We have no desire to place any obstruction in the 

 way of the council, but it is obviously our duty to mention these 

 matters before the troul)le has arisen. It appeara to us that they 

 have made more than one mistake. The charter of incorporation 

 and change of names has in no wise elevated the Society, or its 



