292 



ly/ii u/\n. 



\ X^KJ V c^sa 01:^1^ xj, xyxy 



— and those of a later generation must find it difficult 

 to credit — the almost complete lack of interest in 

 natural science that existed in the I'niversity when 

 Nature was founded; and even in, mathematics 

 (though included in the arts) there was no encourage- 

 ment—quite the reverse — to research of any kind. 

 The progress that has been made from the stagnation 

 of the 'sixties is enormous, and to this great expan- 

 sion of thought, study, and learning Nature has 

 largelv and worthilv contributed. 



Sir R. T. Glazebrook, F.R.S., lately DiREcroR 

 OF THE National Physical Laboratory.— Those of 

 us who have read the pages of Nature weekly 

 for nearly the full period of its life can realise very 

 keenly its value and appreciate the influence it 

 has had on the progress of natural science. It fills, 

 and that in a most admirable manner, an important 

 place in scientific literature; it has served as the 

 means whereby many of the most marked advances of 

 science have been made known to the world, and in 

 its pages will be found the account of discoveries of 

 the highest value to mankind. It is a privilege to 

 send to its veteran founder the heartiest congratula- 

 tions on its jubilee. 



Sir Daniel Hall, K.C.B., F.R.S., Permanent 

 Secretary, Board of Agriculture. — Looking back 

 even so far as one's earliest student days, I see Nature 

 as a continuous and essential part of my scientific life. 

 It has been especially so to me, because most of my 

 time has been spent in the country, remote from the 

 ordinary scientific meeting grounds, and with few 

 opportunities of learning by conversation what was 

 going on in the scientific world. Thus one became 

 dependent upon Nature for information as to the 

 changing currents of scientific opinion and for the 

 necessary knowledge of what work was being done in 

 other fields of science than one's own. During the 

 period in which I have known it, the notable features 

 of Nature have been its catholicity, its fairness, and 

 its dignity. It has worthily stated the case of science 

 to the English-speaking world. 



Mr. W. B. Hardy, Sec. R.S.— I congratulate N.».ture 

 on its fifty years' record. Since the journal was 

 founded science has advanced to an extent which will 

 be realised only by the historian of the future. The 

 advance has been made possible by intense specialisa- 

 tion, and the greatest service which Nature has 

 rendered (and indeed, in my opinion, can render) is 

 that it has kept its readers in touch with the general 

 progress in natural knowledge. Every movement of 

 importance has found an expression in its pages. 



Prof. W. A. Herdman, F.R.S., President- 

 elect of the British Association.— Nature is 

 now a firmly established institution in the world 

 of science, bringing us week by week welcome 

 additions to knowledge, news of work in pro- 

 gress, helpful discussions of new views, and sound 

 critical judgments on affairs scientific and educa- 

 tional. Throughout the past fifty years this journal 

 has consistently and authoritatively upheld the free- 

 dom, dignity, and practical importance of science, 

 and has established a splendid record of scientific pro- 

 gress and a fine tradition of disinterested service to 

 the advance and diffusion of natural knowledge. 

 NO. 261 I, VOL. 104] 



Sir Alfred Keogh, G.C.V.O., G.C.B., Rector, 

 Imperial College of Science and Technology. — 

 The attainment by Nature of its jubilee is a notable 

 event. Fifty years of labour in the furtherance of 

 those principles by which, in many departments of 

 work, unsubstantial axioms were to yield pride of 

 place to scientific truth is no mean achievement. We 

 may well think that the burden of the future, if 

 different from that of the past, is no less difficult. 

 The stimulation of inquiry, the spreading of know- 

 ledge, and the demonstration of the necessity of not 

 merely thinking, but of thinking scientifically, are 

 amongst the most important achievements which 

 Nature has successfully attempted. The interests of 

 science are the interests of the State, and in the vista 

 which is now opening we can all perceive a future in 

 which the well-being of humanity is entirely dependent 

 upon the progress of knowledge and discovery. To 

 aid, encourage, and stimulate progress and to record 

 advancing knowledge is henceforward, as in the past, 

 the task of Nature. As we look back with pride, so 

 we may look forward with an expectant hope. 



Sir Joseph Larmor, M.P., F.R.S. — The early 

 volumes of Nature especially formed an admirable, 

 indeed still indispensable, record of the progress 

 of scientific discovery in our times. They wen; 

 interesting without ceasing to be exact, and thereby 

 potent to mitigate the specialisation that is in- 

 evitable for the secure and fruitful advancement of 

 knowledge. The journalistic and discursive tendencies 

 of the present time render such an authoritative organ, 

 of type purely scientific, more than ever desirable. 



Prof. A. Liversidge, F.R.S. — Having been a sub- 

 scriber to Nature from its first appearance, and 

 having read every number, I wish to offer my con- 

 gratulations upon its jubilee, as well as my best 



' wishes for its continued usefulness and success. 



Sir Oliver Lodge, F.R.S. — I well remember tht 

 appearance of the first number of Nature, when I was 

 eighteen years old and an enthusiastic amateur student 

 of science. The comprehensive character of the new 

 journal was typified by an eloquent introduction by 

 Huxley at the request of Sir Norman Lockyer. 

 And many a man of science must have been grateful 

 to one of the few periodicals which at a high level 



' keeps its readers in touch with practically all 

 branches of scientific knowledge. Over-specialisation 

 is a real danger, and most publications necessarily 

 cater for a limited group only, thus preventing 



! free and easy interchange of thought across the 

 boundary, and excluding the ordinarily educated public 

 from participation in the current progress of science. 

 Comprehensiveness has been the note of Nature, 

 and consequently it has been able to render conspicu- 

 ous service. Even our rulers and literary men may 

 occasionally find time to glance at a periodical such as 



I this, and thereby the disastrous divorce between 

 science and letters and public affairs is mitigated. 

 Long may Nature flourish, and continue to be read in 

 all civilised countries. 



Prof. W. C McIntosh, F.R.S. — Nature, with 

 which I have been familiar from its first number 

 onward to date, has filled an important place in 

 the scientific literature of our country, and in a 



