
1904.| Annwversary Address by Sir William Huggins. 15 
by the Society for the public good. I pass now at once to some of the many 
objects of public concern, which are at the present time either directly 
promoted, or assisted by the Society. 
The establishment in this country of a National Physical Laboratory for 
the purpose of bringing scientific knowledge to bear practically upon the 
industries aud commerce of the nation, was due in no small measure to: 
the action of the Society, and has certainly thrown upon it much additional 
permanent responsibility. The necessity for such an Institution in this. 
country, which was clearly shown by the marked influence of a similar 
Institution on the improvement of technical science and the manufacturing 
interests of Germany, had been already strongly advocated by individual 
Fellows; in particular, by Sir Oliver Lodge at Cardiff in 1891, and Sir 
Douglas Galton at Ipswich five years later; but the first practical step. 
towards its realisation was taken by the Council in 1896, when they decided. 
that the Royal Society should join the British Association and other kindred 
Societies in a Joint Committee, under the Chairmanship of the President of 
the Royal Society, to take such action as they find desirable. 
In the following year, this Committee waited upon Lord Salisbury, who: 
was then Prime Minister, and, as a result, a Treasury Committee was. 
appointed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with Lord Rayleigh as. 
Chairman, to consider the desirability of establishing a National Laboratory.. 
That Committee, after hearing witnesses and visiting Germany, reported 
strongly and unanimously in favour of such a national Institution. In 1898,. 
a communication was received from the Treasury expressing “the hope that 
the Royal Society will be willing to add to the already great services 
rendered by them to the Government and public of the United Kingdom,. 
by consenting to undertake the new responsibilities now sought to be 
imposed upon them” in connection with the new Institution. The Council. 
accepted the important trust, under which the “ultimate control of the 
Institution is vested in the President and Council of the Royal Society, who: 
in the exercise thereof may issue from time to time such directions as they 
may think fit to the General Board and Executive Committee.” The income: 
and all other property is vested in the Royal Society for the purposes of 
the Institution. The Laboratory, which was formally opened by H.R.H. 
the Prince of Wales in March, 1902, has already made remarkable progress 
under its energetic Director. During the present year the attention of the- 
Prime Minister has been called to the very great importance to the national 
industries of an immediate grant for new buildings and a more adequate: 
instrumental equipment, and of a larger annual endowment. 
