300 



Anniversary Meeting. 



[Nov. 30, 



invented to researches other than those for which they were originally 

 designed. 



The microphone, the induction balance, and the sonometer, are 

 instruments by which inconceivably minute electrical and magnetic 

 disturbances not only make themselves loudly audible, but may be 

 definitely measured ; and their application has opened up new lines 

 of inquiry. 



The other Royal Medal is awarded to Professor E. Ray Lankester, 

 E.R.S., for his labours, now extending over more than twenty years, 

 in the field of animal morphology (especially invertebrate anatomy 

 and embryology) and of palaeontology. 



Professor Lankester has been active in many directions, and has 

 everywhere left his mark, not only as an energetic teacher and accurate 

 worker and a philosophical thinker ; but as one who, in times when 

 the example is more than ever valuable, has always been careful to 

 remember that speculation should be the servant and not the 

 master of the biologist. 



The Davy Medal is awarded to Professor Stas of Brussels. 



Professor Stas' great research, for which it is proposed that 

 the Davy Medal be awarded to him, is that on atomic weights. 

 There are probably no researches in chemistry, the results of 

 which appeal so little to the imagination, and which are so little 

 applauded as those on atomic weights, yet for difficulty and import- 

 ance they are hardly surpassed by any. The determination of these 

 fundamental constants of chemistry has engaged the attention of 

 many of the leading chemists, and, before the time of M. Stas' 

 experiments, an immense amount of careful labour had been bestowed 

 on finding methods for the more accurate and complete purification 

 of the compounds employed for the purpose. 



The indefatigable and conscientious care which M. Stas has 

 devoted to the re-determination of a certain number of the most 

 important atomic weights, and the marvellous skill with which he has 

 overcome the various difficulties which successively presented them- 

 selves, render his memoir on the subject one of the most remarkable 

 and valuable of chemical monographs. 



T regret to say that the state of M. Stas' health has not permitted 

 him to be with us to-day, but the representative of his Sovereign, the 

 King of the Belgians, in this country, has kindly consented to receive 

 the medal for him. 



M. le Baron Solvyns, I request your Excellency to be so good as 

 to receive the medal awarded to M. Stas ; and to assure him of the 

 pleasure which it gives the Royal Society to show their sense of his 

 high merits, by asking his acceptance of this memorial of his illustrious 

 predecessor, Humphry Davy. 



