226 Anniversary Meeting. [Nov. 30, 



and proficiency in scientific education in connection with the Royal 

 Society of Edinburgh, the University of Edinburgh, and other 

 institutions in that city, desires to institute foundations of a 

 similar kind in London. He has accordingly given to the Eoyal 

 Society a sum of 1000, to be ultimately invested in such manner 

 as the President and Council, in their absolute and uncontrolled 

 discretion, may think fit, and to be held in trust always for the 

 purpose of forming a fund the annual income of which shall be 

 applied triennially towards the promotion of physical science and 

 biology in such manner as to the President and Council of the Royal 

 Society may appear most desirable. The President and Council, for 

 the time being, are given full power to make such rules and regula- 

 tions as they think fit with regard to the application of the income of 

 the fund, which " shall always be kept distinct from and not in any 

 way immixed with the general funds of the Royal Society." 



A very important resolution for the advancement of natural 

 knowledge has been adopted during the past year by the Royal Com- 

 missioners of the Exhibition of 1851, in the institution of the Exhibi- 

 tion Science Scholarships, to which, after the first year, an expenditure 

 to the extent of 5,000 a year is to be devoted. Sixteen appoint- 

 ments have already been made to scholarships of 150, to be held for 

 two years, with possible renewal for a third year. The Commissioners 

 require of each candidate for an appointment satisfactory evidence of 

 proficiency in a three years' course of University or high class College 

 study, and of capacity for experimental work. To the tenure of each 

 scholarship the duty is assigned of advancing science by experimental 

 work in physics, mechanics, chemistry, or any application of science 

 tending to benefit our national industries. 



A Committee of the British Association appointed for the purpose 

 of reporting on the best means of comparing and reducing observa- 

 tions on terrestrial magnetism has strongly recommended the re- 

 establishment of a magnetic observatory at the Cape of Good Hope. 

 A conference on the subject was held between the Committee and Dr. 

 Gill, the Astronomer Royal of the Cape of Good Hope, last June, 

 during his recent visit to England, which has resulted in an application 

 to the Admiralty to carry this recommendation into practical effect 

 in connection with the astronomical observatory of the Cape of Good 

 Hope (belonging to the Admiralty). This application is at present 

 under the consideration of the Admiralty. 



A fundamental investigation in astronomy, of great importance in 

 respect to the primary observational work of astronomical observa- 

 tories, and of exceeding interest in connection with tidal, meteo- 

 rological, and geological observations and speculations, has been 

 definitively entered upon during the past year, and has already given 

 substantial results of a most promising character. The International 



