THE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES 



worthy of imitation by the other special Societies of 

 London. This Society has brought into union with itself 

 nearly all the local archaeological associations, some forty- 

 five in number, by holding an annual Congress at its apart- 

 ments in Burlington House. Each Society, while retaining 

 its own independent individuality, co-operates with the 

 others in matters of common interest, and one important 

 result of their collective action is an annual classified 

 index of all the archaeological papers of the year. 



[The Royal Society by its high traditions holds a unique 

 position in the van of scientific progress, as the adviser 

 and guide of the nation in all matters which require scientific 

 knowledge and insight. These matters are, indeed, legion ; 

 for all things, within and without us, are determined by 

 the things which preceded them. Milton was not right. 

 Chance, as high arbiter, does not govern all, though there 



may be times when 



"We profess 



Ourselves to be the slaves of chance and the flies 

 Of every wind that blows." 



In truth, law, not chance, rules all. The object set before 

 itself by the Royal Society is to discover and to study those 

 laws of nature which are at the root of our very life, whether 

 personal, industrial, or national. When the Society re- 

 ceived its Charter from Charles u., its Fellows were as men 

 feeling and groping after truth in nature, if haply they 

 might find it ; now they form a great army of explorers 



already in possession of a new world of knowledge, in the 



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