The Present of the Society. 347 



writes a paper described, and every professor who visits the 

 Society ? 



This would have been too daring an inroad on con- 

 temporary life. These ideas have, indeed, prevented the 

 author from mentioning names to such an extent as 

 he thinks he might fairly have done without hurting any 

 man's feelings. However, he has avoided the danger by 

 silence. 



It has been remarked that members of the Society are 

 not content to read their papers here, but prefer to send 

 them to the Royal Society. This remark has, so far as the 

 writer knows, been made without attaching blame to any 

 one. It is useless to complain of this : it is a phase of 

 national life, and it will grow stronger probably for a time, 

 until this subcentre becomes sufficiently brilliant to make 

 men feel that it is an object of great ambition to become 

 distinguished here. This might be the case even now if 

 there was a combined determination to send work to the 

 Society ; but such an event can never take place suddenly, 

 and it cannot be expected to take place here rapidly whilst 

 the Society has none of the funds which have of late so 

 materially strengthened the position of the Royal Society. 

 It would be a great advantage to the community if this 

 Society had at its disposal a sum to be spent on scientific 

 or literary investigations, and it is much to be desired that 

 this subject be brought before men who have wealth to 

 dispose of. 



With an honest and sufficient pride of position, and 

 respect for the city which has increased so much in impor- 

 tance, the Society may continue to be the centre of all that 

 is most original in the department of Science in the district. 

 It is extremely important for the sake of humanity itself to 



