PREFACE 



to scientific research which it has itself brought about 

 through the wonderful increase of natural knowledge, due 

 largely to the work of its Fellows. As the number 

 of workers in science increased, the successive differenti- 

 ation of phenomena which is at the root of all progress 

 became greater, and the inevitable specialisation of natural 

 knowledge into distinct branches rapidly advanced until 

 these specialised activities could no longer be confined 

 within a single Society. In this way there came about 

 the swarming off, as need arose, of special Societies re- 

 stricted to the study and promotion of a single branch of 

 science, and not like the Royal Society for the improving 

 in its widest sense of natural knowledge. The present and 

 future relationship of the Royal Society to these daughter 

 Societies, to which she has given birth, is considered as far 

 as the limitations of an Address permitted. 



The paragraphs placed within brackets are taken from 

 the reports in the Times of my speeches at the Anniversary 

 Dinners. Though expressed in a lighter manner, they 

 seem sufficiently germane to accompany with advantage 

 the statements of the text where they are inserted. 



My thanks are due to the Royal Society for permission 

 to have photographs taken specially for this book, of 

 the Rooms of the Society ; of two Pages of the Charter- 

 book; of the Telescope made by Newton, and of the 

 Mask of his face ; of the Mace ; and of contemporary 

 Portraits in oil of the Royal Founder, and of ten Fellows 

 of immortal fame in science. 



