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SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 
EnromotoaicaL Society oF Lonpon. 
At a meeting of this Society, held 5th August, 1885, Mr. J. Jenner 
Weir, Vice-President, in the chair. 
Mr. J. W. Dunning, at the invitation of the Vice-President, announced 
that the Society’s application for a Royal Charter had been successful. He 
held in his hand the Charter which had been granted by Her Most Gracious 
Majesty, and begged leave to preseut it, and formally place it in the custody 
of the Society. 
The document was then read by the Secretary. 
The Vice-President congratulated the Fellows, as he might now call 
them, on the position which the Society had attained, and on the privileges 
which had been granted. 
Mr. Dunning said that when, in 1883, it was decided to take action in 
the matter, he had invoked the assistance of a member, Mr. Frank Crisp, 
and left the conduct of the affair entirely in his hands. He thought the 
result which had been announced was a sufficient justification of the step. 
Now that the object had been obtained, Mr. Crisp had, with characteristic 
generosity, written to say that he had no charges whatever against the 
Society. He therefore moved that the hearty thanks of the Society be 
given to Mr. Crisp for his valuable and gratuitous services. This was 
seconded by Mr. Stainton, and carried unanimously. ‘The Secretary was 
instructed to communicate the vote to Mr. Crisp, who was not present at 
the meeting. 
Jonkherr May, while gladly acknowledging Mr. Crisp’s kindness, 
thought that it was only Mr. Dunning’s modesty which induced him to 
take this means of diverting attention from his own share in obtaining the 
Charter. It was to Mr. Dunning also that the Society was indebted, and 
he moved that the hearty thanks of the Society were due, and should be 
given to him. Mr. Meldola seconded the motion, and it was carried 
unanimously. 
Mr. Dunning, in acknowledging the vote, said that when temporarily 
occupying the chair, some six years ago, he had said, “ Incorporation by 
Royal Charter is not beyond our hopes.” It was only a passing thought, 
and he had little expectation that the hope would so soon be realised. To 
himself, it was an unmixed pleasure to have been instrumental in obtaining 
that which alone was wanting to complete the fabric of the Society, and 
give it that status to which its history of fifty years afforded a claim, the 
justice of which has now received such graceful recognition. 
he a 
