201 
1919-20.] Meetings of the Society. 
Since it was evident that nothing could in the meantime be effected in the way proposed, one 
of our Members, resident in London, suggested that the Society should make an appeal to its 
Fellows to subscribe to a special fund to help the Society over its present difficulties, and at the 
same time sent £100 as a first contribution. Acting on this suggestion, the Council sent an 
appeal to all the Fellows of the Society in the following terms : — 
ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 
22 George Street, 
May 1919. 
Urgent . 
Dear Sir, —The Council of the Royal Society of Edinburgh made an Appeal last January to the 
Chancellor of the Exchequer for an increase in the annual grant, in order to enable the Society to 
publish scientific papers committed to its care. In his reply to our memorandum the Chancellor of 
the Exchequer referred to several of the important points, and concluded in these words “ In 
these circumstances, and having regard to the present condition of national finance, Mr Chamberlain 
regrets that he cannot propose to Parliament an increase in the grant to the Society at the present 
time, though he would be ready to reconsider the question along with other similar claims when the 
financial situation is more favourable.” 
The great increase in the cost of publication is interfering seriously with the normal work of the 
Society, and the Council have been considering anxiously how best to meet the situation. 
One of our Fellows, resident in London, recently gave a generous donation of £100 so as to help 
to relieve the financial difficulties in which we find ourselves, and suggested that other Fellows might 
be in a position to follow his example. The Council have resolved to approach the Fellows in regard 
to this matter, and have decided to ask for voluntary contributions towards a Special Subscription 
Fund. They trust that the response to this appeal will be such as to ensure the continued publica- 
tion of scientific papers during the present session. — Yours very truly, 
C. G. Knott, 
General Secretary, R.S.E. 
Appended is a statement of the amount of money immediately required to place the Society on a 
satisfactory basis : — 
1. Printing and distributing papers still to be published this session 
2. Neill & Co.’s account, 1917 — remaining portion of debt 
3. Completing the serials got from enemy countries ... 
4. Despatch of Transactions and Proceedings held up during war . 
£180 0 0 
200 0 0 
450 0 0 
60 0 0 
£890 0 0 
It should be further noted that the Binding of Serials is very much in arrears, to meet which a 
large additional sum will be required. 
By September 1919 the whole amount subscribed to the “Special Subscription Fund” was 
£775, 16s. 6d., and after a second appeal this was increased to £1072, 17s. 6d. 
Owing to the generosity of many of its Fellows, the Society has now been able to clear off the 
debts of former years, and to meet our present expenses for publication. Of the whole sum sub- 
scribed to the Special Subscription Fund there remains in hand on October 27, 1919, the sum of 
£771, which will be carried over to ease the financial stress in meeting the expenses specially 
referred to in the Second Appeal, viz. : — Completing the Serials from Foreign Countries ; the 
despatch of Transactions and Proceedings held up during the war, and the printing and distribution 
of the remaining papers which belong to the last session. It should be noted, however, that the 
general situation remains as before, viz. that in view of the continuing high prices the present 
income of the Society is not sufficient for it to continue to publish to nearly the same extent as 
heretofore the results of scientific research. 
During the year the Society appointed two delegates, Sir E. Sharpey Schafer and Dr C. G. 
Knott, to the Conference of the International Association. The first meeting was held in Paris 
towards the end of November 1918, and the arrangements made at that time have resulted in the 
formation of two important International Unions, viz. that of Astronomy and Geophysics. 
Professor George Forbes and Mr M'Ewan were appointed delegates to the Union of Astronomy, 
and Dr Knott and Dr Crichton Mitchell to the Union of Geophysics. 
Professor Lapworth and Professor Hudson Beare were chosen as representatives of the 
Society to the Watt Centenary Celebration held in Birmingham in September last. 
The Treasurer in submitting his Report for the year compared the Income and Expenditure 
with those of the previous year, and called attention fo the fact that the deficit of £301, 16s. lid. 
on the year’s working had been met by transferring that sum from the ‘ ‘ Special Subscription 
Fund ” to the “General Fund.” 
Dr E. M. Wedderburn moved the adoption of the Reports, and the reappointment of Messrs 
Lindsay, Jamieson & Haldane, C.A., as auditors of the accounts for the ensuing Session. 
This was unanimously agreed to. 
