No. 16. [From Nature, January 28, 1904, Vol. LXIX, 

 p. 293.] 



THE ROYAL SOCIETY 



AT the special meeting of the Royal Society held on 

 January 21, when the constitution and functions of the sec- 

 tional committees were under consideration, the opinion was 

 expressed by more than one speaker that the usefulness of 

 the society in encouraging and advancing scientific work is 

 not what it might be ; but no very definite suggestions were 

 made with a view to its improvement. 



It seemed to me that the functions of these sectional 

 committees had a good deal to do with the lack of scientific 

 enterprise which we observe in the Royal Society, and that 

 they might with advantage be done away with. 



As many of the fellows had left the meeting before I 

 spoke, and as everything that affects the efficiency of the 

 Royal Society concerns the public, I crave the hospitality of 

 the columns of Nature to develop as shortly as possible my 

 views on this matter. 



The main function of the sectional committees is to refer 

 papers received by the society from fellows, to some other 

 fellow or fellows of the society to be certified that they are or 

 are not fit to be accepted and published by the society. 



It is well known that the fellows of the society are de facto 

 chosen by the council after rigid scrutiny and the most careful 

 inquiry, and the only object of this scrutiny and inquiry is to 

 satisfy the council that the candidate whom it recommends 

 is a man of eminence in his own science, and that the work 

 which he is likely to do will be a credit to the society. So 

 convinced is the society of the thoroughness and impartiality 

 with which the council discharges this duty that the confir- 

 mation of its selection by election has come to be a pure 



