74 Koyal Society — The Victoria Eesearch Fund. [Apeii^, 



The President laid on the table the fallowing conunuiiication : — 



Royal Society. 



Bdelington House^ 



Piccadilly, 



London, W., 

 February 22nd, 1897. 



Sir,- — tJpon the invitation of the President and Council of the 

 Royal Society, the Presidents of scientific Societies in London met the 

 President and Officers of the Society on February 9 to consider whether 

 any, and, if so, what, steps should be taken on the part of men of 

 science to commemorate the present 60th year of the reign of Heu 

 Gracious Majesty the Qaeen, a period so rich in scientific discoveries. 

 At that meeting, which was a very representative one, it was unani- 

 mously resolved — • 



that a Fund, to be called The Victoria Research Fund, be estab- 

 lished, to be administered by representatives of the various 

 scientific Societies, for the encouragement of research in all 

 branches of science. 



To raise a Fund of such a kind worthy of the occasion, the active co- 

 operation of all the scientific Societies of the Empire is imperatively 

 necessary ; for the Fund, to be so worthy, must be a very large one. 



It is nob to be expected that scientific Societies would in general con- 

 tribute out of their corporate funds, though some might be willing to da 

 so; but rather that the several Societies should exert themselves to 

 collect subscriptions to the Fund. 



Nor is it to be expected that men of science would themselves furnish 

 the required sum. It is to be hoped that they would contribute so far 

 as each felt able. Bat the chief gifts are to be looked for from the 

 public, from those who are not themselves engaged in scientific in- 

 quiry, and especially perhaps from those whose wealth has been the 

 direct or indirect result of the scientific progress of the Victorian era. 



So many demands are at the present moment being made in so many 

 ways upon the purse for the purpose of commemorating the present year, 

 that it may be worthwhile to point out that, the object of the proposed 

 Victoria Fund being a lasting one, it is not necessary that the whole 

 Fund should be raised at once. The Fund once established might be 

 increased by subsequent additions, and contributions might be spread 

 over many years, or might not be called in until some future time, so 

 that the burden in the present year might be lightened. 



