THE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES 



the Royal Society, and were more or less under the leader- 

 ship of its Fellows. 



About ten years ago this question was formally raised 

 by the senior Secretary, who, in a letter addressed to the 

 President for the consideration of the Council, asked 

 whether, in view of the development of the several special 

 Societies, and the increase in number and importance of 

 the independent scientific periodicals, the time had not 

 come when changes beneficial to science and to the Societies 

 themselves, alike in the conduct of the Royal Society and 

 in its methods of publication, might not be introduced, 

 based upon a formal understanding and arrangement for 

 co-operation with the more important of the several 

 Societies formed for the study and promotion of separate 

 branches of science. 



A strong Committee was appointed, which held numerous 

 meetings extending over a year. Several plans for a more 

 or less close affiliation of the principal special Societies 

 with the Royal Society were proposed in considerable 

 detail by members of the Committee, and these were 

 subjected, in succession, to a very critical consideration, 

 and to prolonged discussion at its numerous meetings. 



The members of the Committee who were in favour of 

 an organic affiliation of the specialised Societies with the 

 Royal Society, though differing from each other as to the 

 details of the formal arrangement by which it should be 

 carried out, were in general agreement that it should 



provide an effective representation of the several Societies, 



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