NATUKE,. November i. 1894] 



NATURE 



FIFTY-FIRST VOLUME. 



L'ENVOI. 



THE completion of a period of twenty-five years, and the publication of fifty 

 volumes since Nature was established, mark an epoch in its history. The 

 Editor is anxious to take advantage of it to tender his best thanks to those who have, 

 from the commencement of the Journal to the present time, not only contributed to 

 its pages, but have so freely permitted him to appeal to them for advice and assistance. 



He feels strongly that it is only owing to their aid and their careful pilotage that 

 N.ATURE has so far escaped that shipwreck which has been the lot of somewhat similar 

 ventures, not only in this country, but in Europe and America. 



It would have been appropriate, if it had been possible, to have included in 

 this, the first number of the fifty-first volume, a retrospect of the scientific progress 

 achieved during the last quarter of a century. It was, however, plainly impracticable 

 in such a limited space to give a just idea of the various triumphs which have been 

 accomplished along the many lines of scientific thought and work. 



But no elaborate retrospect is needed to prove that since 1869 our scientific 

 progress has been at a rate which has never been surpassed in the world's history. 

 Men and ideas have increased ten-fold ; instruments and applications have increased 

 a hundred-fold. The battle of scientific education has been fought and won, and the 

 general interest in matters scientific is greatly increasing. Not only are these things 

 so, but there is everv indication that when L' Envoi to the hundred and first volume 

 comes to be written — by some other hand — a still more rapid progress will have 

 to be indicated. 



That the same distinguished man of science who wrote the first article in N.vruRK 

 in 1869 has been good enough to start the fifty-first volume, will doubtless be as 

 great a source of pleasure to the readers of Nature as it is a source of pride to 



The Editor. 



Diiriiio- the last hicnty-frve yeai's the folloioing have been among the Contributors 



to Nature : — 



Abbe, Prof. Cleveland (Washington). Ailken, J., F.R.S. Baker, Sir Benjamin, F.R.S. 



Abel, Sir F. A., K C.B., F.R.S. dAlbe, E. E. Fournier. Baker, Sir Samuel W., F.k.S. 



Abercromby, lion. Ralph. Allen, Grant. liaker, J. G., F.R.S. 



Abney, Captain W. tie W., C.B., F.R.S. .-Vllman, Prof. George James, F.R.S, Balfour, Prof. Francis, F.R.S. 



Acland, Right Hon. A. H. D., M.P. Allman, Prof. George Johnston, F.K.S. BaKour, Henry. 



Acland, Sir II. W. D., K.C.B., F.R.S. Allardice, Prof. R. E. Bal/our, Prof. I. B., F.R.S. 



.\dami, Dr. J. G. Andrewes, Dr. Ball, John, F.R.S. 



Adams, Prof. J. C, F.R.S. Aichibald, E. D. Ball, Sir R. S., F.R.S. 



Adams, Prof. W. G., F.R.S. Argyll, Duke of. K.G., F.R.S. Ball, Dr. y., F.R.S. 



Adamson, Prof. R. Armstrong, Lord, I'.R.S. Bambcr, E. 1". 



Agassiz, Prof. Alexander (Camb., Mass.). Armstrong, Prof. H. E., F.R.S. Barlow, W. H., F.R.S. 



Airy, Sir G B , F R.S. Ayrton, Prof. NY. E., F.R.S. Barrett, Prof. W. F., F.R.S. • 



