CHAPTER XI 



GRANTS AND COMMITTEES WHICH THE ROYAL SOCIETY 

 CONTROLS OR ADMINISTERS, AND INSTITUTIONS ON THE 

 GOVERNING BODIES OF WHICH IT IS REPRESENTED 



OWING to its age and the position which it has long held among the scientific 

 institutions of the country, the Royal Society has been called upon to under- 

 take many duties outside of the sphere of its own more immediate activities. 

 In some cases it has been invited to be represented on the Boards of Electors to 

 Chairs in the Universities or on the Governing Bodies of the Public Schools. 

 In others, it has been entrusted with the general control of important public 

 institutions. The Society has likewise been frequently consulted by the 

 Government of the day in regard to matters of scientific concern, and has been 

 requested to undertake physiological and pathological investigations, some of 

 which have continued for years and have involved the sending out of com- 

 missions of inquiry and research to tropical regions. The following list will 

 show the varied character of these external duties which are at present dis- 

 charged by the Society. 



I. GOVERNMENT GRANT FOR SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS. 



For the origin of the annual Parliamentary Grant for Scientific investi- 

 gations' it is necessary to go back to the year 1849. On November 16 of 

 that year, a letter addressed confidentially by Lord John Russell to the Earl 

 of Rosse was read to the Council, together with the draft of Lord Rosse's 

 reply, and on December 20 a Committee, consisting of the Lord Chief Baron, 

 Professor Owen, Sir Roderick Murchison, Dr. Miller, and the officers, was 

 appointed 'to consider and report to the Council respecting the application 

 of the proposed Grant by Her Majesty's Government for the promotion of 

 scientific inquiries \ This Committee presented their Report to the Council 

 on March 7, 1850, recommending that 



* First, and chiefly, the Grant be awarded in aid of private individual scientific 



investigation. 



* Secondly, in aid of the calculation and scientific reduction of masses of 



accumulated observations. 



'Thirdly, in aid of astronomical, meteorological, and other observations, 

 which may be assisted by the purchase and employment of new 

 instruments. 



