SCIENCE, INDUSTRY, AND EDUCATION 



has been most remarkable. Besides the publication of 

 numerous memoirs of original research and of papers on 

 technical processes, the direct results of the work of the 

 Institute upon the industries of the country have more 

 than justified the prevision of the founders ; largely, we 

 regret to say, to our own national loss, and to the almost 

 complete passing to that country of the renown which 

 was formerly ours in exact scientific measurements, and 

 for the construction of standards and instruments of 

 precision. So true is it, that the investment of public 

 money in scientific research can only be compared to good 

 seed cast into good ground, bringing forth in results a 

 hundred, or even a thousand-fold. 



Besides these more direct results, the existence of such 

 a national Institution for physical and technical purposes 

 cannot fail to arouse and foster the public appreciation 

 of those scientific methods which, in education and in 

 commerce, as well as in the industries, are the all in all of 

 a nation's prosperity. 



It is therefore with feelings of high satisfaction, shared, 

 I am sure, by all the Fellows, that I have to record the 

 opening in March last of a similar national Institution in 

 this country. As was fitting to a public occasion so full 

 of possibilities for the future wealth and power of the 

 country, the ceremony of inauguration was performed by 

 our Fellow, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, who was accom- 

 panied by the Princess of Wales. 



The Prince's words were weighty, and so appropriate 



22 



