[August, 
4g 2 Report on Scientific Societies . 
communicated either as a whole, or in such abridgments as 
will bring out their importance in respedt of the matter 
treated. In all cases the author’s own words ought to be 
used, and perhaps they should be given also in the original 
language ; for it is not so much the diversity of languages 
as the multiplicity of works familiarity with and access to 
which is required that is the great stumbling-block in the 
way of getting up any question. This publication might 
bear the name of “ Archives of Science,” with sub-titles 
corresponding to the subjedl- matter of the volumes. As an 
annex or supplement to this colleftion might be published 
also, from time to time, volumes comprising the colledted 
works of those philosophers whose merits in science would 
deserve such a memorial of their work. As belonging to 
this part of the subjedt, and preparatory to the above serials, 
I would suggest the speedy publication of indexes to such 
works, periodically issued, as now lack them ; and among 
which even those important colleftions the “ Philosophical 
Transactions” and “ Philosophical Magazine ” must be 
numbered, at least in respedt of their latest series. 
In the third instance I propose the publication of period- 
icals to be issued monthly, each devoted to a distindt branch 
of science, and the objedts of which I can most shortly 
explain by a statement of what should be their uniform 
table of contents, viz., (i) original communications on new 
work; (2) reprints or abstracts _ of papers published in 
journals or proceedings; (3) notices of books and biblio- 
graphy ; (4) correspondence and discussions ; and (5) mis- 
cellaneous. These publications, which I will call bulletins , 
should be like the Archives polyglot, for the reasons above 
stated and in the manner there explained; actually the 
existence of a periodical of this kind (the “ Astionomishe 
Nachrichten ”), which stands high in public estimation and 
usefulness, proves the pradticability of the principle. But 
in connexion with the bulletins should be issued another 
serial, and this wholly in English, to be published weekly, 
and giving a summary of progress in science and other 
intelligence, culled from the bulletins , and adapted for the 
amateur or cultivated general reader who takes some interest 
in science. This publication should contain (1) leaders on 
scientific questions of the day ; (2) abstracts, reprints, or 
translations from other journals; (3) proceedings. of scien- 
tific societies ; (4) reviews of books and bibliography ; 
(5) news and intelligence ; (6) complete lists of scientific 
papers published in periodicals. This publication, which 
has its near prototype in an extant periodical, might be 
designated as the “ Journal of Science.” 
