156 Anniversary Address by Sir A. Geikie. [Nov. 30, 



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the two learned bodies that are specially devoted to the cultivation of these 

 sciences. Nor can we see any reason why this process of devolution should 

 not continue in the future. Hence if the system of reading and publishing 

 papers which, has been in use here for so many generations is to be 

 perpetuated without modification, there may come a day when every great 

 department of natural knowledge will be provided with its own special 

 society, and then we may ask in anticipation, what will be left for the 

 meetings of the Koyal Society. For myself I do not believe that such 

 a time of impoverishment ever will befall us. We cannot, and would not if 

 we could, do anything to prevent the foundation of fresh societies for 

 sciences that have not yet been provided with them. But we may so adjust 

 our programme as to bring it into harmony with modern conditions, and thus 

 to maintain and extend the prestige and usefulness of the Eoyal Society. 

 The danger to which I have referred, however, is by no means imaginary, 

 and it should be faced before it has time to become serious. 



Notwithstanding the changes brought about by the multiplication of 

 scientific societies during the last hundred years, the reading of papers and 

 the printing and publication of them still remains the most prominent function 

 of our Society. The ' Philosophical Transactions ' and ' Proceedings ' continue 

 to appear, and to maintain their high reputation. Even although their range 

 of subjects has been lessened by the appearance of the many other scientific 

 serials now published, they still form one of the most outstanding chronicles of 

 the progress of research. With the view of increasing their uset'uhies^s, the 

 Society some years ago departed from the time-honoured practice of dealing 

 with natural knowledge as one great subject, and now groups its papers in 

 two separate series, one devoted to Physical (A) and the other to Biological (B) 

 questions. It is undoubtedly a consideralde convenience to liave tlie memoirs 

 in each of those two great divisions gatliered together into a separate series 

 of volumes. More recently the practice has grownup of introducing a similar 

 principle in the grouping of papers to be read at the weekly meetings of the 

 Society. It was hoped tliat l)y taking the ])hysical pa,]iers on one day and 

 the biological comnumications on another a better attendance could be securi'd, 

 especially of the representatives of each division. 1 cannot say that this 

 arrangement has been attended with the success v.hich was anticipated. It 

 has, however, its humorous side, as may bo seen on most Thursday afternoons. 

 1'he ])r(!liminary half hour of general inlercourso which is aHbiiled in the tea- 

 room undoubtedly I'orms oiui of tlx; most useful and most generally appre- 

 ciated features in the piogranuue of the Society's functions. It provides 

 convenient opportunities ibi- tlit; cultivation ol' pcirsonal riilatious between the 

 workers in nil In auchcs of icscarch, iiml niucii valuaJih; s(U'vi(;e is undoulitedly 



