1877 / L. Bell; J. H. Gilbert; Sir E. Ommanney 4 1 9 



including the Anniversary, to be held at half-past six 

 o'clock. 



No reason is assigned in the Minutes for the reduction of 

 the number of meetings in the year. The omission of 

 one Thursday in each month during the session of the Royal 

 Society, by arrangement with the Philosophical Club, 

 accounted for a lessening of this number from 1856 onwards. 

 The average up to 1874 ranged from 21 to 25 dinners in 

 the year. In 1875 there was a sudden drop to 15, which in 



1878 sank to 12. The numbers rose again in 1879 to I 8 ', 

 but in 1881 they again fell to 12. The Minutes do not 

 explain the causes of these fluctuations. This subject will 

 be again referred to in the next Chapter. 



Of the members elected this year Isaac Lowthian Bell, 

 chemist and metallurgist, was, in co-operation with his 

 brothers, founder of great ironworks on the Tees. He 

 was skilled in the scientific side of the industries which he 

 fostered, and this aspect of his important work was recognised 

 by the Royal Society when in 1874 he was elected F.R.S. 

 He represented Hartlepool in Parliament for five years, and 

 in recognition of his public services was created a baronet 

 in 1885. He died in 1904. 



Dr. Joseph Henry Gilbert studied chemistry under Liebig 

 at Giessen and obtained the degree of Ph.D. In 1843 he 

 engaged with J. B. Lawes of Rothamstead in experimental 

 researches in agricultural chemistry and physiology on a 

 large scale, with a view to the advancement of agriculture. 

 The great scientific interest and practical value of these 

 prolonged investigations have been fully recognised. Dr. 

 Gilbert was elected into the Royal Society in 1860, and in 

 1867 a Royal Medal was awarded jointly to him and his 

 Colleague, Mr. Lawes. He was elected President of the 

 Chemical Society and Sibthorpian Professor of Rural 

 Economy in the University of Oxford, and received the 

 honour of knighthood. 



Admiral Sir Erasmus Ommanney, K.C.B., joined the Navy 

 in 1826 when he was twelve years old. Next year as aide- 

 de-camp to the Captain of the Albion he served in the thickest 



