THE ROYAL SOCIETY AND THE STATE 



the Society, organised a small Commission of two experts, 

 who left England for the scene of the eruption eleven days 

 only after the receipt of Mr. Chamberlain's letter ; the 

 expenses being met by a grant of 300 from the Govern- 

 ment Grant Committee. Six weeks were spent in the 

 Islands, including Martinique, by the Commission, which 

 was successful in securing results of great scientific interest. 

 A preliminary report was published at the time, and a full 

 report has since appeared in the Transactions. 



Time forbids me to do more than mention the successive 

 expeditions sent out by the Society, conjointly with the 

 Royal Astronomical Society, for the observation of total 

 solar eclipses ; and the onerous work thrown upon the 

 Society for several years in connection with the National 

 Antarctic Expedition, undertaken jointly with the Royal 

 Geographical Society, which has this year returned home 

 crowned with success as regards the latter ; but the Society's 

 labours are not at an end, for the prolonged and responsible 

 task of the discussion and publication of the scientific 

 results of the Expedition is still before them. 



In addition to the numerous undertakings, of which 

 some examples have been given, in which the influence 

 and work of the Society have been exercised for national 

 or public objects, there are a number of other ways in 

 which the Society makes its influence continually felt 

 and of which the responsibilities are always with it. The 

 Society is represented by the President, as an ex-officio 



elector, in the election of eight scientific Professorships 



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