THE ROYAL SOCIETY AND THE STATE 



as at present to tax the Society's powers to the utmost. 

 A not inconsiderable part of this work has come from the 

 initiation by the Society itself of new undertakings, but 

 mainly it has consisted of assistance freely given, at their 

 request, to different Departments of the Government on 

 questions which require expert scientific knowledge, and 

 which involves no small amount of labour on the part of 

 the officers and staff, and much free sacrifice of time and 

 energy from Fellows, in most cases living at a distance. 



There is little doubt that this largely increased amount 

 of public work has arisen in part naturally from the greater 

 scientific activity of the present day, but also, and to a 

 greater extent, from the fuller recognition by the Govern- 

 ment and the public of the need for scientific advice and 

 direction in connection with many matters of national 

 concern. 



It may not be inopportune, therefore, for me to say 

 a few words on the advisory relation in which the Society 

 has come to stand to the Government, and to review very 

 briefly the great work which the Society has done, and 

 is doing, for the nation. 



Among Academies and learned Societies the position 

 of the Royal Society is, in some respects, an exceptional 

 one. In the British dominions it holds a unique position, 

 not only as the earliest chartered scientific Society, but 

 in its own right, on account of the number of eminent 

 men included in its Fellowship, and the close connection 



in which it stands, though remaining a private institution, 



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