510 



dispose of. I quite agree with our Treasurer, that it deserves con- 

 sideration whether a more advantageous employment might not be 

 found for our surplus income, " more beneficial to science and to the 

 Society itself, than that of continuing to increase the accumulated 

 funds." Dr. Wollaston would probably have supported these views; 

 for in his celebrated letter on establishing the Donation Fund, read 

 to the Council on the llth of December, 1828, he says, " I hereby 

 enjoin the President, Council, and Fellows not to hoard the dividends 

 parsimoniously, but expend them liberally, and as nearly as may be 

 annually." 



Now there are some who think that we should look forward to a 

 time when the payment of annual subscriptions should be discon- 

 tinued. I cannot subscribe to this opinion. It is true, that there 

 are men who by natural talent, by incredible perseverance, self-devo- 

 tion and industry, have risen, as it were, from the ranks of science, 

 to whom the large payments exacted from members are a serious 

 inconvenience and an obstruction to their obtaining those honours 

 which they have justly earned by the labours of a well-spent youth. 

 Let such men be excused; but I cannot comprehend on what 

 principle we should refuse to receive pecuniary contributions for 

 a most worthy object, from those who are not unwilling and are 

 perfectly able to pay them in exchange for the honours and many 

 other advantages which their Fellowship confers upon them. There 

 may be some, again, who imagine that there will be some difficulty 

 in discovering a mode of expending this anticipated surplus which 

 is likely to meet with general approval. I cannot believe it. 

 There are many works which cannot be written ; many researches, 

 experiments, and observations which cannot be made, reduced or 

 published; many voyages and travels that cannot be undertaken 

 because the necessary funds are not to be had. Moreover, there 

 is a mode of applying a part of these accumulations, which 

 has suggested itself to some of the members of your Council, to 

 which I will allude very briefly. Your Secretaries are always chosen 

 from among the most distinguished of your Fellows. They are 

 generally men who are occupied in professional and professorial 

 duties which embrace a very large portion of their time ; and it is 

 their precious leisure hours only which they can devote to your ser- 

 vice ; hours, which when not given to necessary relaxation, they would 



