252 The Franklin Bi-centennial 



THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY 



We, the President and Fellows of the Royal Astro- 

 nomical Society send greeting to the American Philo- 

 sophical Society on the occasion of the two hundredth 

 anniversary of the birth of its founder and first Presi- 

 dent, the illustrious philosopher Benjamin Franklin. 



We offer our grateful thanks for the courtesy which 

 has permitted us to share in honouring one whose gifts 

 and labours have called forth the admiration of man- 

 kind. 



Especially would we remember the brilliant discov- 

 eries which established the identity of the electric dis- 

 charges of the atmosphere with those of the laboratory; 

 which may justly be regarded as the beginning of that 

 science which to-day unites the most distant and majestic 

 phenomena of the Universe in the bonds of physical 

 identity. 



We pray a long and prosperous continuance to the 

 Society whose foundation rests in such splendid associa- 

 tions, and whose work has for so long contributed to the 

 advancement of knowledge. 



Signed and sealed at the Apartments of the Society, 

 the ninth day of March, one thousand nine hundred 

 and six. 



Burlington House, London. W. H. Maw, 



President. 



(Seal) Thomas Lewis, 



Secretary. 



