428 



Anniversary Meeting. 



[Dec. 1, 



to the Governments, and each country having one vote only, irrespec- 

 tive of its size and importance. 



The third Conference was held at Rome in December, 1871, when 

 the British Government (Post Office) was for the first time repre- 

 sented, and also the Indo-European and Cable Companies, which 

 latter are bound by the resolutions of the Conference only in matters 

 of international administration, and of tariff in cases where lines join 

 two countries belonging to the Union. 



The fourth Conference met at St. Petersburg in 1876, and the fifth 

 at London in 1879. At the latter meeting difficult questions of tariff 

 arose, which protracted the sittings over nearly two months. At 

 previous Conferences it had already been decided to treat each country 

 as a unit, its particular charge being the same, whether a message 

 had only to cross the frontier, or had to pass over long distances into 

 the interior. At the London Conference it was proposed by Germany 

 to adopt a uniform rate per international message for the whole of 

 Europe, analogous to the uniform postal rate for letters, while France 

 went further and urged the adoption of a universal rate per word. 

 Neither of these measures, however, was adopted, but a compromise 

 was effected : and after the 1st April, 1880, each word will be charged 

 at a specified rate for each country, five words being added to each 

 message to cover time spent in advising, commencing, and finishing it. 



The next Conference will meet at Berlin in 1884. 



All European countries, as well as Brazil, Persia, India, and Japan, 

 belong to the Conference, and are bound by its decisions. 



Any of twelve modern languages using the Roman character may 

 be employed ; Russian, Greek, Turkish, being thus excluded from 

 use. 



It would be difficult to over estimate the beneficial results produced 

 by these Conferences in stimulating and perfecting international 

 communication. 



Material is not wanting to extend these notices of scientific activity 

 over a wider range; for our foreign neighbours are always ready to 

 furnish us with information of whatever is new among them either 

 in matter or in method. But a mere enumeration of these things, 

 however interesting in themselves, would form but a dull chapter, 

 unless it should issue in a judicial estimate of results, or a suggestive 

 comparison of national arrangements for the promotion of science. 

 On such an enterprise I am by no means prepared to adventure 

 myself ; and even if I should be ever led to make the attempt on 

 some special topic, or some particular aspect of the question, I must, 

 at all events, defer it to a future occasion. 



On the motion of Mr. Francis Galton, seconded by Sir Joseph 

 Fayrer, it was resolved: — "That the thanks of the Society be re- 



