Royal Society. 68 



been better, but it would have been obviously unwise to have re- 

 commended a plan involving a very large expenditure. The Com- 

 mittee proceeded one step further, they pointed out a mechanical 

 engineer of character and experience in the construction of optical 

 instruments, who was willing to undertake to make the instrument 

 for a specific sum, and having proceeded thus far, they laid the 

 whole matter before Government, with whom it at j)resent rests. 



Another application is also before the Government of a very 

 different character, but with the same great object, the advancement 

 of human knowledge : it is to provide a building for the reception 

 of the Scientific Societies of the metropolis. That application did 

 not proceed from your Council, but from a large number of indivi- 

 duals, many of them Fellows of this Society, the remainder distin- 

 guished members of the other Scientific bodies of the metropolis. 

 The application was made in the shape of a Memorial to Govern- 

 ment, the signatures amounting to about 200. There had been no 

 effort, I believe, on the part of those who brought the subject for- 

 ward to procure a large number of signatures, or in any way to 

 obtain a direct representation of the Scientific bodies : the Memorial 

 was a preliminary step, and in that stage nothing more was required, 

 than to show that it was supported by a large number of persons of 

 that class, from which science, if called upon, would have selected 

 her representatives. The Memorial was presented by a deputation, 

 and care was taken to explain to Government, that it did not ema- 

 nate officially from this Society or from any other. 



A detailed explanation was also entered into, showing in what 

 way the cultivation of science would be promoted, by providing 

 suitable accommodation for the scientific societies. Carleton ride 

 was suggested as a convenient situation, and other sites were named 

 in the same neighbourhood. 



Reference was made to the suggested site at Kensington, and it was 

 explained that it would be inconvenient to a large proportion of the 

 working men of the Societies, many of them engaged in business, and 

 whose time was most valuable, that they would be unable to attend 

 regularly, and that the usefulness of the Societies would be thereby 

 greatly impaired. It was also intimated that the purchase of a large 

 tract of land at Kensington did not materially affect the question ; 

 as a small space would be sufficient for all the Societies, and there- 

 fore that a free grant at Kensington could be but little object. Should 

 the Government accede to the Memorial, I jireaume tliat then the 

 Societies will be regularly consulted. The site will then be pointed 

 out, the plan of tiie building laid before you, and you will form your 

 own opinion ; you will decide wiiether to remain as you are, or to 

 accept the enlarged accommodation, which the far-sighted liberality 

 of the nation will have provided for you. 



The interests of science appear to me to be deeply involved in the 

 question of providing a suitable building for the Scientific Societies. 

 It is a i)ractical question, and we must look at it in all its healings, 

 as men of the world. Had there been no Societies, science would 



