Union of Scientific Societies 27 



of science by stimulating and co-ordinating the activities 

 of the Royal and other societies. 



At the 6th meeting (Nov. 25th, 1847), Mr. Grove raised 

 the question whether a closer union between the different 

 scientific societies of the metropolis was not desirable, in 

 order to concentrate their labours, unify their publications, 

 and diminish rivalry. Assuming that to be the case, he 

 thought any measure designed to effect it must be moderate 

 in character ; and with that intent made the following 

 suggestions for the consideration of the Club, (i) That 

 all its members, who are also members of the Councils of 

 the different societies, should endeavour to get these societies 

 brought into a single locality. Then their libraries might 

 be joined (each society retaining its own property), when 

 they would form one of the most valuable scientific libraries 

 in Europe, and a single room, if each society selected a 

 different day in the week, would suffice for their meetings. 

 (2) That, in order to obtain an annual publication, embracing 

 the most important branches of science, the Council of each 

 of the principal societies say, the Astronomical, the 

 Chemical, the Geological and the Linnean should be at 

 liberty to forward each year to the Council of the Royal 

 Society, papers say, not exceeding two in number for 

 publication in the Philosophical Transactions; the right 

 being reserved to the several Councils of printing these papers 

 also in their own Transactions, and to that of the Royal 

 Society of accepting or rejecting them. 



Sir H. T. de la Beche fully agreed with the general aim of 

 the first proposal, but doubted the feasibilitj^ of the second, 

 though he thought that science and scientific men suffered 

 from want of mutual co-operation. Dr. W. A. Miller sug- 

 gested the publication, weekly or monthly, of a Compte 

 Rendu of Proceedings by the different societies, and it was 

 generally felt that the subject required further discussion. 

 That was resumed at the next meeting (Dec. 23rd), when six 

 members of the Club were appointed a committee to con- 

 sider and report upon the question on Jan. 27th, 1848. 



They presented a report to this effect : that the Presidents 



