23 



who in 1787 was elected a member of the American Philo- 

 sophical Society, and at a meeting of the latter, on April 18, 

 1788 (Franklin presiding), returned thanks for his election and 

 communicated u A very carious account of pure iron in a met- 

 alic (sic) state lately found in South America." 



Not in membership alone, but also in scientific activity, does 

 there remain evidence of early relations between the two so- 

 cieties. In the Philosophical Transactions for 1769 we find 

 the " Account of the Transit of Venus over the Sun's Disc, as 

 observed at Norriton in the County of Philadelphia and Pro- 

 vince of Pennsylvania, June 3, 1769. By William Smith, 

 D.D., Provost of the College of Philadelphia, John Lukens, 

 Esq., Surveyor-General of Pennsylvania, David Bittenhouse, 

 A.M., of Norriton, and John Sellers, Esq., one of the Repre- 

 sentatives in Assembly from Chester county, the Committee 

 appointed for that observation by the American Philosophical 

 Society, held at Philadelphia, for promoting useful knowledge. 

 Communicated to the said society by Dr. Smith, and to the 

 Royal Society of London by Nevil Maskelyne, B.D., Astrono- 

 mer Royal." And in the following year was published an 

 " Account of the Transit of Mercury, November 9 t 1769, ob- 

 served at Norriton, Pennsylvania. By a Committee of the 

 American Philosophical Society. Communicated by Benja- 

 min Franklin, LL.D." 



I am sure that now, a century later than the day on which 

 your Society held its first regular meeting in its newly com- 

 pleted Hall, the feelings of good will between the two socie- 

 ties, and cordial desire for the 'continued scientific vitality and 

 prosperity of both, are increased rather than abated. The 

 Royal Society congratulates you on your entering upon the 

 second century of corporate life in your accustomed meeting 

 place. 



