888 PROFESSOR LIONEL S. BEALE, E.K.S., ON 



takes an interest in scientific subjects. Botli Institutions 

 cany on their important Avork in hope, and the only Avages 

 they look for are " the Avages of going on and not to die," 

 and both discharge important functions, of benefit to the 

 world. To me of course it is a great pleasure that our 

 meeting should happen to be here, for this is the theatre in 

 Avhich 1 have been lecturing now for many, many years 

 (applause), and I can only say that it gives me pleasure to 

 return, for once, to my old home. 



Let me, for a moment, recall a trifling incident, of some 

 considerable interest to all, which happened a great many 

 years ago, when there Avere 300 or 400 boys in the 

 school in the regions below this theatre, and I can remember 

 perfectly Avell, Avhen I Avas one of them, there Avas once 

 a great disturbance in the college. ]\Iany great people 

 came in, and the yard Avas full of carriages. There were 

 numbers of soldiers and a band Avas playing, and guns were 

 firing. Presently Prince Albert arrived and Avas conducted 

 to the terrace fronting the riA'-er. Some little urchins, full 

 (jf curiosity, managed to make their Avay through the croAvd 

 to a small Avooden table placed on the terrace, and there Avas 

 a gentleman sitting Avith a little round disc before him. 

 Round the disc Avere capital letters. A, B, C, D, and so on. 

 It was moA^ed romid, one Avay or the other, by the finger. 

 The operator looked anxious and, eA-ei.y now and then, 

 toAvards the Shot ToAver on the other side of the Thames. 

 Various efforts Avere made. We did not, of course, know 

 exactly Avhat Avas intended ; but Ave kncAv it Avas something 

 very important, or the Prince Avould not be there. Close by, 

 stood Professor Daniel and Professor Faraday, and a great 

 many celebrated scientific men of that old time. ]\Iessages 

 seemed to pass to and from the toAvcr along the Avires. 

 This Avas the beginning of the electric telegraph, and the 

 very instrument that Wheatstone used that day, is noAv in 

 the museum upstairs. That day is of great historical 

 interest, and a nvnnber of experiments Avere then made, and 

 new investigations Avere undertaken by many scientific men, 

 leading, at last, to telegraphy gaining the ])erfeetion Avhich 

 it has since attained, enabling us to connnnnicale Avith our 

 friends all round the Avorld. 



1. The problem that I Avish to brijig before yt)u this 

 0A''ening is. perha2)S, still further from solution than Avas the 

 (piestion of telegraphy at the time 1 mention. 1 do not 

 suppose that fifty years have advanced our Iviiowledge of the 



