II 



THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON FOR IMPROV- 

 ING NATURAL KNOWLEDGE 



A SESSION OF THE SOCIETY 



THERE is one scientific institution in London more 

 venerable and more famous even than the British 

 Museum. This, of course, is the Royal Society, a 

 world-famous body, whose charter dates from 1662, 

 but whose actual sessions began at Gresham College 

 some twenty years earlier. One can best gain a pres- 

 ent-day idea of this famous institution by attending 

 one of its weekly meetings in Burlington House, Pic- 

 cadilly a great, castle-like structure, which serves also 

 as the abode of the Royal Chemical Society and the 

 Royal Academy of Arts. The formality of an invita- 

 tion from a fellow is required, but this is easily secured 

 by any scientific visitor who may desire to attend the 

 meeting. The programme of the meeting each week 

 appears in that other great British institution, the 

 Times, on Tuesdays. 



The weekly meeting itself is held on Thursday after- 

 noon at half -past four. As one enters the door leading 

 off the great court of Burlington House a liveried attend- 

 ant motions one to the rack where great-coat and hat 

 may be left, and without further ceremony one steps into 

 the reception-room unannounced. It is a middle-sized, 



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