298 
became her desire, from motives of the highest philan- 
tropy, to contribute to the promotion of science. 
When the plan for the establishment of an Inter- 
national Scientific Association was brought forward at 
Montreal, and again at Philadelphia before the great 
National Associations, Mrs. Thompson considered that 
the proposed International Society would be the fittest 
body to assume the trust she wished to establish. Ac- 
cordingly, she placed in my hands the sum of 5000 
dollars (1500/.) as the nucleus of a fund to be controlled 
by the International Association when organised. 
Not long since Mrs. Thompson communicated to me 
her desire to transfer the above-mentioned sum to a 
board of trustees and to add to it at once 20,000 dollars 
more, making a total permanent fund of 25,000 dollars. 
Mrs. Thompson has been as liberal in the conditions she 
has established as in the amount she has given. Accord- 
ing to her letter of conveyance, “the income of the fund 
is to be devoted to the advancement and prosecution of 
scientific research in its broadest sense, it being under- 
stood that to provide for and assist in the maintenance of 
an International Scientific Association is a method of | America which is absolutely independent of electricity, so that 
application which seems to me very desirable.” 
The trustees are left with very great discretionary 
powers, which are to be guided by certain general direc- 
tions. It is above all expressly understood that the prime 
object is to contribute from the income towards defraying 
the cost of scientific researches. The Board of Trustees 
consists of five members: Chairman, Dr. Henry P. Bow- 
ditch, Professor of Physiology and Dean of the Harvard 
Medical School; Treasurers, Wm. Minot, jun.; Prof. 
Edward C. Pickering, Director of the Harvard Astro- 
nomical Observatory; General Francis A. Walker, 
President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ; 
and the Secretary, Dr. Charles S. Minot. It was con- 
sidered important to have as great a variety of interests 
represented as possible, and this is accomplished by the 
association of these gentlemen. 
When the International Association is organised the 
income of the fund presumably will be expended under 
the direction of that new Association ; until then, under | 
the direction of the trustees. The first appropria- 
tion will probably be made next autumn, when several 
hundred dollars will become available. 
time a circular will be issued announcing the manner in 
which applications may be made. As it is desired to 
give the fund an international character, it is hoped that | 
foreign journals will copy this notice. 
In conclusion I wish to express my admiration for the 
wisdom shown by Mrs. Thompson. It is certainly very 
remarkable that a person not specially versed in science, 
nor directly interested in any of its branches of investi- 
gation should be induced by a desire to benefit her 
fellows, not to give for some temporary need, but, with 
exceptional insight, to give for the development of the 
very sources of progress. The same sound judgment 
governed her decision as to the conditions of her gift, for 
it is difficult to foresee any probability which will render 
this endowment futile. Very often a public gift has its 
object determined by the donor’s personal interests. I 
believe Mrs. Thompson was governed solely by her con- 
victions as to the application of her money which would 
do most good. 
At their first meeting the trustees voted unanimously to 
call their trust “The Elizabeth Thompson Science 
Fund.” CHARLES SEDGWICK MINOT 
Boston, Mass., U.S.A. 
NOTES 
WeE are informed by Dr. Armstrong that arrangements have 
been made for two discussions in the chemical section oyer which 
he will preside at the meeting of the British Association at 
Aberdeen. The one will be on the Determination of the 
NATURE 
At the proper | 
[Fuly 30, 1885 
Molecular Weights of Liquid and Solid Bodies, the other on 
Electrolysis. It is proposed to have a series of critical papers 
read which shall embody, as far as possible and desirable on 
such an occasion our knowledge of these subjects, and also 
indicate the directions in which investigation is specially re- 
quired and may be most usefully carried on. These subjects 
have been chosen as being of general interest and of special 
importance to the chemist, and in the hope of inducing chemists 
and physicians to cooperate in attacking the many problems 
which await solution. Capt. Abney will open the first dis- 
cussion with a paper on the spectroscopic method. Profs. 
Guthrie, Reinold, and Dilden, Mr. S. U. Pickering, Dr. Russell 
and Dr, Armstrong will also contribute papers. Professor Lodge 
will open the discussion on Electrolysis, and Prof. Schuster, 
Capt. Abney, and Mr. Shelford Bidwell have already consented 
to contribute papers on portions of this subject. Dr. Armstrong, 
will be glad to hear from any other gentlemen who may wish 
to aid in forwarding what promises to be a useful departure. 
A TELEPHONE has just been brought to this country from 
batteries, coils, and cells are quite dispensed with. This 
obviously greatly simplifies the working of the instrument, and 
| inthe ‘‘ mechanical telephone,” which was recently subjected to a 
severe test, simplicity and distinctness are claimed as its chief 
characteristics. The instrument consists of a diaphragm, or 
sounding-board made of strips of willow wood, which has been 
found by experiment to possess a remarkable sensitiveness to 
sound vibrations. These strips of wood are closely woven 
together and varnished. In the centre of the diaphragm a 
small disc of metal is placed, from which the wire proceeds to 
any point desired up to two miles. In recent trials the instru- 
ment freely answered to all demands upon it, the ticking of 
a watch, musical sounds, whispering, &c., being heard with 
great distinctness. 
WE understand the Fishery Board for Scotland, in order to 
learn further what has been done in other countries for increasing 
the fish supply, has requested Prof. Cossar Ewart, when on the 
Continent during the autumn, to visit some of the principal 
fishing stations in Norway and Sweden. It will be remembered 
that Prof. Ewart, by visiting at his own expense Canada and the 
United States last autumn, was able to present to his Board a 
valuable report on the ‘‘ Progress of Fish Culture in America.” 
An equally interesting report on the Norwegian fisheries may be 
expected. 
In accordance with previous announcements the summer 
meeting of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers will be held 
at Lincoln on Tuesday, Aug. 4, and the following days of the week. 
The following papers have been offered for reading and discussion 
after the address of the President, Mr. Jeremiah Head :—De- 
scription of Dunbar and Ruston’s steam navvy, by Mr, Joseph 
Ruston, M.P., of Lincoln ; on recent adaptations of the Robey 
| semi-portable engine, by Mr. John Richardson, of Lincoln ; 
description of the Tripier spherical eccentric, by M. Louis 
Poillon, of Paris; on private installations of electric lighting, 
by Mr. Ralph H. C. Nevile, of Wellingore; on the iron in- 
dustry of Frodingham, by Mr. George Dove, of Frodingham ; 
description of an autographic test-recording apparatus, by Mr. 
J. Hartley Wicksteed, of Leeds. A formidable programme of 
excursions and visits to various works has been arranged. 
WE referred a short time back to a proposed excursion by the 
Geologists’ Association to Belgium, under the direction of MM. 
Dupont, Gosselet, Purves, and Renard. The monthly circular, 
giving full details of the arrangements, is now before us, from 
which we learn that during the six days of the excursion 
(August 10 to 15) visits will be made to the typical sections of 
Cambrian, Devonian, and Carboniferous rocks, including the 
