XXX. THE FIRST WINTER MEETING. 



the fact that competition is increasing abroad, and the struggle for superiority is 

 becoming more and more severe. We have had several warnings during the last 

 few years. The Prince of Wales, it will be remembered, on his return from a 

 voyage round the world, told us we must ' wake up,' and, without going into 

 controversial questions, our trade returns, year by year, are not what we have a 

 right to expect them to be, looking at the experience of former years. But I will 

 not detain you longer, except to say that, if we are to think Imperially in the 

 future, we must commence by thinking scientifically, and that is why I should 

 wish our Club to do its best to promote so desirable an object by any beginning, 

 however humble ; and, in the hope that it will be willing to adopt the scheme I 

 now propose, I beg you to believe me, very sincerely yours, EUSTACE G. CECIL." 



Then came the following memorandum of the scheme : 



"Lytchett Heath, Poole, December 13th, 1904. The surplus fund of the 

 Mausel-Pleydell Memorial Fund has been invested in 100 Xew S. Wales 

 Government 3 per cent. Stock. It is now proposed to add to that fund a further 

 sum of 300 Foreign, American, and General Trust Company deferred stock, 

 producing 5 per cent, per annum, taking the average of the last twenty years, say 

 15. With this sum, added to 3 per annum on the Xew S. Wales Government 

 stock, a total of 18 would be obtained, with which it is proposed that two silver 

 medals should be given yearly for the best scientific papers at an expense of 5 

 each the surplus, after defraying the small cost of the medals (say 5s. 6d.), 

 being laid out in books or instruments, at the option of the successful candidate. 

 A further sum of 5 yearly to be reserved for expenses and fees connected with 

 the examination papers, postage, &c., leaving, say, 3 over each year to 

 accumulate. The first medal to be called the ' Mausel-Pleydell ' medal, and to 

 be given for the best paper on natural history and archaeology, especially 

 the natural history of Dorset and its antiquities, prehistoric records, and 

 ethnology, and to be open to Members of the Dorset Field Club only of both 

 sexes. The second medal, to be called the ' Cecil ' medal, for the best paper on 

 chemistry or electricity, as applied to healing or medicinal purposes, for domestic 

 and farm uses, or motor power generally, and to be open to eandidates of both 

 sexes who have been born in the county of Dorset, or who have resided there for 

 not less than one year. The age of candidates at first to be fixed at from IS to 

 30, power being reserved to a committee of President and two Vice -Presidents 

 (with power to add to their number) to increase or reduce the limit of age. 

 Schoolmasters or teachers, in their active exercise of their professions, not to be 

 eligible. Examinations to be held yearly under the direction of the committee 

 mentioned above, with such extra assistance as they may require or decide upon, 

 discretion being left to them to fix the subjects for examination, under the 

 proposed heads, and the limit of age, and to carry out such other changes as from 

 time to time may seem desirable, bearing in mind the main objects of the original 

 bequest. Should, in their opinion, the examination papers be judged in any one 

 year to be not of sufficient merit, or not deserving of reward, then no medals are 



