30 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



longer able to include all the work, and various special societies one 

 after the other began to spring into vigoi'ous life. 



The Society of Antiquaries was chartered in 1751. 



The Society of Ai-ts was founded in 1753. 



The Linnsean Society was founded in 1788. 



The Geological Society in 1807. 



The Royal Astronomical Society in 1820. 



The Zoological Society in 1826. 



The Royal Geographical Society in 1830. 



The Botannical Society in 1836. 



The Microscopical Society in 1839. 



The Chemical Society in 1841. 



The Philological Society in 1842. 



The Ethnological Society in 1843. 



Besides these and other societies for the advancement of pure 

 science, there are the various professional association : tlie Institu- 

 tion of Civil Engineers, the Medical and Law Societies, the Royal 

 Institute of British Architects, and the Pharmaceutical Societies. 



This, then, is a brief outline of the development of a few of the 

 more important of the Learned Societies of England, which, together 

 with hosts of others in other parts of the British Empire, in Europe, 

 and in America, have done so much for the Promotion of Natural 

 Knowledge. Let us now briefly consider what are or should be the 

 aims of such associations, what ai'e their proper functions, and how 

 their objects may be best fulfilled. 



I think all will agree that the first and most important function 

 of Learned Societies is the publication of the results of investigation. 

 It is before all things necessary to the growth of knowledge that 

 the discoverer of a new truth should have the opportunity afibrded 

 him of making his discovery known as Avidely and as promptly as 

 possible. It is most desirable that those engaged in research should 

 Lave the fullest possible means of making themselves acquainted 

 with what has been done by others, or, as the phrase goes, with the 

 condition of our present knowledge of the subject. One truth leads 

 to another ; and each new fact observed, each new law established, 

 suggests fresh fields for investigation, and furnishes new weapons to 

 the armoary of science. Vixere fortes ante Agavieinnona. There 

 were philosophers before Newton, but, unless they had sufficient 

 private means to publish their own works, or enough influence to 



