MY JUBILEE 409 



the result of your life's work. We recall your early researches, in con- 

 junction with your illustrious friend Bunsen, into photo-chemical pheno- 

 mena which illuminated a new department of chemical philosophy, one 

 that is destined to even wider development in view of recent discoveries. 

 To your thorough researches on the compounds of Vanadium the 

 scientific world has been indebted for the knowledge of the properties of 

 that element. We recognise that, in addition to these and other import- 

 ant researches of your own, it has been granted to you to establish and 

 foster that great Laboratory at Manchester, from which for a long series 

 of years a succession of brilliant investigators has been sent forth to 

 uphold the fame of British Chemical Science. The value of the services 

 you have rendered to your own University of London, to the Victoria 

 University, to our Society by your contributions to its Transactions and 

 your services on the Council, to the Nation by your efforts for the improve- 

 ment of education and for social progress is widely recognised. 



It affords me very great pleasure to transmit the congratulations of the 

 Royal Society and to express the hope that before you and, may I be per- 

 mitted to add, Lady Roscoe, there is still a long period of happy and 

 honourable activity. 



Believe me to remain, 



Yours most faithfully, 



WILLIAM HUGGINS, 



President R. S. 



To which I replied : 



To the Fellows of the Royal Society, and especially to my old and 

 respected friend our President, Sir William Huggins, of ' Starlight ' renown, 

 my most grateful thanks are due, and although I feel my own deficiencies 

 I accept the kind expressions as one who has at any rate always had the 

 promotion of natural knowledge at heart. 



Another came from the Society of Chemical Industry. 



The Society of Chemical Industry founded in 1881 has had nearly 23 

 years of usefulness, and has grown into a large and widely spread 

 Association of men eager to further the interest of technical or professional 

 Chemistry. To you, Sir Henry Roscoe, as its first President, the 

 members of the Society feel that this prosperity is due. It was by your 

 wise advice that the Society adopted the constitution which it now 

 possesses, and which has proved so admirably suited for the duties which 

 it performs, the form of its Journal, which appeared for the first time 

 in January 1882, during the year of your Presidency; but it has naturally 

 grown with the times, and it now constitutes an admirable record of the 

 progress of chemical technology in all its branches. 



In offering their most cordial and heartfelt congratulations, the Council 

 only acknowledge a part of the debt of gratitude which they owe to you ; 

 and they trust that you may yet be long spared to enjoy many happy and 

 useful years of life, and to aid them with your advice. 



WILLIAM RAMSAY, 



President. 



Among the foreign addresses that which I prize most is that 

 from the great German Chemical Society, of which I have been 

 honorary member for twenty-five years. 



