288 



NATURE 



[November 13, 1919 



wonderful progress that has been made in all direc- 

 tions has been faithfully recorded in the columns of 

 this journal, which has been a most valuable source 

 of information and a great aid in their work to 

 scientific men all over the world. I heartily hope it 

 may remain so for many years to come. 



'Norway, 

 Bergens Museum. President: Dr. Joiian Loihe.— 

 During the war natural science amply proved what 

 immense powers it wields and what great ends 

 it can attain. In the work of reconstruction and 

 peaceful development which is before us we shall look 

 with greater expectations to science and to the results 

 of scientific research. A highly trained staff of 

 scientific workers, with well-furnished laboratories at 

 their command, will then be an invaluable asset to 

 any nation. At the same time we may entertain 

 a hope that science, which is of necessity international, 

 will in course of time be able to renew the bonds of 

 international intercourse and co-operation which have 

 been broken by the war, and thus enable mankind to 

 bring the work for peace among nations to a happy 



end. 



Portugal. 



Academia das Sciencias de Lisboa. President (Class 

 of Sciences): Josli Joaquim da Silva Amado. — The 

 great advances of science since the second half of the 

 eighteenth century which are enjoyed by us, and the 

 benefits of which are increasing every day, have been 

 the result of three essential conditions, namely : — 

 (i) The progressive triumph of the freedom of thought 

 over the old tyranny of a dull scholasticism and its 

 metaphysics, by which intellectual advancement was 

 retarded for so long; (2) the establishment of the 

 fertile and sound principles of experimental method; 

 and (3) the wide publication, with comments and 

 criticisms through books and periodicals, of the valu- 

 able scientific conquests obtained by the genius of 

 man. In the group of periodicals which have con- 

 tributed so powerfully to bring the extensions of natural 

 knowledge in their diverse manifestations before a 

 wide circle of readers Nature, the fiftieth year of 

 which is now celebrated, has contributed very greatly. 

 The journal must be considered an active promoter of 

 scientific learning, and of the spirit by which the 

 treasury of human knowledge is enriched. Associating 

 ourselves with its jubilee feast, we send our verv 

 hearty compliments to Nature's Editor and pub- 

 lishers. 



Switzerland. 



Societe de Physique et d'HIstoIre Naturelle de 

 Geneve. Le Prdsident: M. J. Carl. Le Secrdtaire : 

 M. E. JouKOWSKY. — Les naturalistes genevois ont 

 appris avec plaisir que le p^riodique Nature f^tait 

 prochaJnement le cinquantenaire de sa fondation. lis 

 appr^cient les immenses services que ce journal a 

 rendu k la diffusion des sciences naturelles par ses 

 comptes rendus judicieux de I'activit^ des academies, 

 par ses critiques des publications scientifiques et sur- 

 tout aussi par des articles originaux dCls k la plume 

 des savants anglais et Strangers les plus ^minents. 

 Tout en se mettant au service de la science pure, 

 Nature s'est toujours efforc^ de tenir ses lecteurs au 

 NO. 261 1, VOL. 104] 



courant des progres r^alis6s dans la technique et dans 

 I'enseignement des sciences naturelles. Persuades 

 que votre journal continuera h occuper un des 

 premiers rangs parmi les p^riodiques scientifiques, nous 

 rendons hommage au travail que vous avez accompli 

 et souhaitons k votre entreprise le meilleur succes 

 dans I'avenir. 



Society Helvetique des Sciences Naturelles. 

 Central President : Prof. Dr. Ed. Fischer. — I 

 beg to offer my hearty congratulations on the 

 fiftieth anniversary of Nature. The journal has 

 always in a remarkable manner understood how to 

 present an extraordinarily complete survey of the 

 position and development ofi.the various branches of 

 the natural sciences. It has also had the good fortune 

 to number among its contributors the most distin- 

 guished naturalists and thinkers of Great Britain. 

 To our congratulations we add the expression of our 

 grateful recognition of the fact that the journal has 

 repeatedly directed the attention of its readers to 

 Swiss research work and the activity of our society. 

 May Nature ever succeed in awakening and retaining 

 interest in the high importance of the natural sciences 

 in the widest circles. 



United States. 

 The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia. President: Mv. 

 Walton Clark. (By cable.) — The Franklin Institute 

 extends to Nature heartiest congratulations on the 

 attainment of its jubilee. No journal has contributed 

 more in the past fifty years to stimulate interest in 

 physical and natural science. May you be as suc- 

 cessful in the future ; for a widespread knojvledge of 

 science is to-day imperative if the civilised nations are 

 to continue to exist. 



Natiopal Academy of Sciences, Washington. Foreign 

 Secretary: Prof. G. E. Hale. (By cable.) — ^The 

 president. Dr. Charles D. Walcott, requests me to 

 offer his congratulations to Nature on the occasion 

 of its jubilee and on behalf of the Academy to express 

 the deep appreciation felt in the United States for 

 the work accomplished by Nature in the advance- 

 ment of research in the world. During a period of 

 specialisation Nature's extensive survey of the pro- 

 gress of research has stimulated wider vision and 

 ] larger effort in spite of repeated discouragement. Tt 

 has urged upon the statesmen of two generations 

 the vital importance of science to the nation. At a 

 time when the branches of science, no longer isolated, 

 arc uniting in common ch.innels, and when Govern- 

 ments once unappreciative are recognising the bear- 

 ing of research on national security and public wel- 

 fare, we rejoice in Nature's expanding influence and 

 the higher opportunities for services opening to it in 

 a newly ordered world. 



Universities. 

 Queen's University of Belfast. Vice-Chancellor : 

 Rev. Thomas Hamilton, D.D.— Most heartily do 

 I congratulate the Editor and proprietors of 

 Nature on its jubilee. The progress of science in 

 the half-century which has passed since November 4, 

 , 1869, when the first number of Nature appeared, 

 has undoubtedly been more illustrious than that 



