202 Sir John Evans. [Jan. 17, 



January 17, 1895. 



The LORD KELVIN", D.C.L., LL.D., President, followed by Sir 

 JOHN EVANS, K.C.B., D.C.L., LL.D., Vice- President and 

 Treasurer, in the Chair. 



A List of the Presents received was laid on the table, and thanks 

 ordered for them. 



The following Papers were read : 



I. " The Trusts of the Royal Society." By Sir JOHN EVANS, 

 K.C.B., Treasurer R.S. Received January 7, 1895. 



It may be of interest to the Fellows if I give a succinct account 

 of the various trnsts that the Society administers, their origin and 

 progress, the application of the income of the funds, and their 

 present financial position. I will take them in the order in which 

 they are arranged on our annual balance sheet, on which in each 

 case full particulars of capital, income, and expenditure, are clearly 

 given. 



A considerably larger amount of detail as to the foundation of the 

 older funds will be found in Weld's History of the Royal Society 

 and in an anniversary address delivered by the late Mr. Spottiswoode, 

 as treasurer, in 1874. On the present occasion I propose to treat 

 the subject as briefly as possible with due regard to clearness. 



No. 1. THE SCIENTIFIC RELIEF FUND. 



This most excellent and valuable institution originated in the year 

 1859, in a proposition of Mr. J. P. Gassiot that a fund of this kind 

 should be founded for the aid of such scientific men, or their families, 

 as may from time to time require assistance. A circular announcing 

 the project was issued by the Society, in May, 1859, and by the 

 following July 2500 had been subscribed. By the end of 1864, the 

 amount of 5000 , had been reached, and by 1868 the fund consisted 

 of 6052 17s. 8d., New 3 per cent. Annuities. 



Until 1884 the amount remained stationary at a little under 6500, 

 but legacies, from the late Sir W. Siemens, of 1000, and from Mr. 

 Bentham, of about 500, gave it a sensible help. 



In November, 1885, however, a noble offer was made by Sir 

 William, now Lord Armstrong, to present a sum of about 6500 to 



