4 
Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinhurgli. [dec. 5, 
Mr Gordon, and I think that members have every reason to he 
satisfied with the manner in which these duties are discharged. 
One of the events of the year which calls for more than a passing 
notice, is the institution of the Victoria Jubilee Prize by Dr 
Gunning, a gentleman distinguished by his enlightened liberality, 
and who has given away a large part of his fortune to the enrich- 
ment of the institutions of this city. 
By the terms of the foundation, the prize is to be awarded 
triennially, and may be either for work done during the past three 
years, or for researches to be prosecuted during the ensuing triennial 
period on a subject approved by the Council. 
In calling the attention of the Society to the special terms of Dr 
Gunning’s most useful endowment, I note that this prize fund is, so 
far as I know, the only fund available for distribution in Scotland 
in aid of scientific research. There is a research fund, as the 
Bellows are aAvare, voted annually by Parliament, and placed at 
the disposal of a committee of the Eoyal Society of London ; but 
no share of this or any other public fund is placed at the disposal 
of the scientific profession in Scotland. 
Ireland has its special grant ; but Scotland has to trust to the 
liberality, or let me say the sense of justice, of the Royal Society 
of London in regard to such claims as she may prefer for the work 
of scientific research in Scotland. We know that when a demand 
comes from a Scotsman of established reputation in the scientific 
profession, it is fairly considered by the committee in London, and 
generally honoured. I need only refer to the sum so liberally 
voted at the last meeting of the London Committee in aid of Dr 
Murray’s submarine researches, and, indeed, it is not to be doubted 
that the eminent men who compose the Research Committee in 
London are anxious to make a fair distribution of the public money 
which is placed at their disposal. 
But we say that it is impossible in the nature of things that a 
committee in London should have the knowledge that is desirable 
of the attainments of the younger scientific men of Scotland who 
may be willing to engage in original work. 
The work proposed may be most important, and its prosecution 
may involve the purchase of costly apparatus, such as would be a 
proper charge on the research fund ; but how is the committee 
