302 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
other associations having objects not more beneficial to the public. 
The principle is, that when funds are voluntarily supplied from 
local sources, the State supplements these by an addition of as much 
money from the Exchequer. The local subscriptions are justly 
taken as evidence that the objects are praiseworthy, and that they 
are appreciated by the community ; whilst any risk of misapplica¬ 
tion or mismanagement is avoided by an annual report to Govern- 
ment. This principle has been applied to schools and various 
other educational institutions, to volunteer corps, to county con¬ 
stabulary, &c. 
Whilst pointing out the illiberal, short-sighted, and inconsistent 
policy of the British Government in not assisting scientific socie¬ 
ties with pecuniary grants to aid them, it would be wrong in me 
not to take grateful notice of a parliamentary grant of L.1000 a 
year given to encourage scientific investigations carried on an} 7 - 
where in the United Kingdom or colonies of Great Britain. Of 
this grant I could find no authentic account in any publication. 
General rumour only was my authority for believing that such a 
grant existed, and that it was at the disposal of the Boyal Society 
of London. On my speaking to Professor Balfour on the subject, I 
found that he could give me no information, but he kindly under¬ 
took to apply to Dr Sharpey, the secretary of the Boyal Society of 
London. Dr Sharpey at once responded, by sending a memoran¬ 
dum explanatory of the grant—a memorandum which appears to 
me of sufficient importance to be now laid before our Society :— 
c - Memorandum as to the ‘ Government Grant ’ placed annually at 
the disposal of the Boyal Society.—Nov. 30, 1870. 
“ In 1849 the First Lord of the Treasury (Lord John Bussell) 
offered , on the part of the Government, to place L.1000 at the dis¬ 
posal of the Boyal Society, to be by them applied towards the 
advancement of science. 
“ This offer was accepted. The first payment was made in 1850, 
and it has been repeated annually up to the present time. Up to 
1855 the grant was paid from a special fund at the disposal of the 
Treasury, but since then it has been annually voted by Parliament. 
“ The Council of the Boyal Society consider the grant as a con¬ 
tribution on the part of the nation towards the promotion of science 
