164 



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



may, in exceptional cases, be held for three years, and are of great usefulness 

 in encouraging and aiding young men of promise who are starting upon 

 a scientific career. 



The " Joule Fund," which is international in character, is intended for the 

 promotion of research by younger men in the branches of physical science 

 in which Joule's discoveries were fundamental. The " Gunning Fund " was 

 established for the furtherance of knowledge in physics and biology. 



During the present year three additional funds have been constituted in 

 accordance with the wishes of three deceased Fellows. By the foundation of 

 the " Sorby Fund " the Eoyal Society is entrusted with the administration of 

 the interest of a sum of £15,000 for the purpose of creating and maintaining 

 a professorship or fellowship for scientific research, to be associated primarily 

 with the University of Sheffield. The first appointment to this post was 

 recently made by a Committee representing the Society and the University. 

 Another well -remembered name will now be perpetuated among the activities 

 of the Eoyal Society by the " Tyndall Mining Eesearch Fund," consisting of 

 £1000 which has been given by Mrs. Tyndall, in accordance with her 

 husband's desire, for furthering research in all matters pertaining to mining 

 and the welfare of miners. The " Gore Bequest," already referred to, has 

 placed in our hands a sum of upwards of £2400, the interest of wliich is to 

 be devoted to assist original scientific discovery. 



Althougli tlie Eoyal Society administers annually a considerable sum of 

 money, it will be observed tliat by far tlie largest part of the dislmrsements is 

 ear-marked for various special applications, and cannot be employed for other 

 objects. So far, indeed, as its general purposes are concerned, the Society 

 cannot be regarded as adequately provided. For nearly two hundred and fifty 

 years it has continued to hold aloft tlie torcli of science, but the constantly 

 augmenting demands of modern progress make its task increasingly difiicult 

 of satisfactory performance. I have referred to the growing cost of our 

 publications, and there are otluu" parts of our organisation wlierein the 

 development of our work is hampered by tlie lack of funds. Men of science 

 are sehloiii rich ; it is therefore all the more gratifying to be able to record 

 examples of the continuous generous lil)erality of our Fellows. 15ut it is 

 liardly from our own ranks that we can look for any substantial addition to 

 our resources. Perchance in the general community there may yet be found 

 some m(!n wlio may be led to see tluit besides the various laudable objects 

 that have hitherto claimed their care, the advancement of science is likewise 

 an important public and educational interest, and that benefactions are not 

 iinwdi'tliily Vtestowed in (iuabling the Eoyal Society adequatidy to maintain 

 the great work which it has iiilierit(!(l from the; ])ast. 



