On delivering to a gentleman the medal which had been awarded to him fur his discoveries in science, Sir John Pringle, who held the office of president from 1772 to 1778, made it a rule to deliver a spsycli, in which, after touching on the history of that branch of phi losophy to which the discovery or communication referred, be stated the particular points in which the individual had distinguished himself. The first of these speeches was made on presenting to Dr. Priestley the gold medal for his paper entitled Observations on the Different Kinds of Air,' which had been read before the society in March, 1772. This liberal practice, by which the value of the testimonial to the receiver is so much enhanced, is still continued ; and it is also become customary, at every anniversary meeting, to notice, in an appropriate speech, the principal circumstances in the life of any distinguished member who may have died during the year.
It is perhaps impossible that, in a large body of men engaged in similar pursuits, differences should not arise ; and the Royal Society has not been entirely free from the evils attending disagreements among its members. It will be enough to refer to the dispute about the comparative advantages of blunt and pointed conductors for pro tecting buildings from the effects of lightning, which in 1778 arose to such a height that the president, Sir John Pringle, felt himself com pelled to resign [PRINGLE, Jour, in Bioo. Div.]; and to the accu sations at a later period against Sir Joseph Banks of partiality in the disposal of the medals and even in the election of members. In the first instance, the president may have erred in putting himself at the head of a party in the society ; but it is probable that most of the grievances subsequently complained of originated mainly in, the disappointed expectations of ambitious individuals. If at any time, however, the complaints have not been without foundation, the ele vated character of the papers which for many years have been published in the ' Transactions' shows that the interests of science have been generously placed above every private consideration.
According to the present statutes of the society, every candidate for admission must be recommended by a certificate in writing signed by six or more fellows, of whom three at (east must certify that the recommendation is from personal knowledge ; and the name, qualifi cations, &c., of the candidate must be entered in a book kept for the
purpose. At the first ordinary meeting in March of each year a list of the mines of all candidates proposed subsequently to March 1 of the preceding year, is suspended in the meeting-room till the day of election ; and a printed list is forwarded to every fellow of the society. From this list the council select by ballot fifteen names to be recom mended to the society for election. The election takes place on the first Thursday in Juno, when the person elected must appear for admission on or before the fourth ordinary meeting of the society after his election ; and previously to such appearance he must pay the mum of 10/. for admission money; ho must also pay 41. per annum as long as he continues a fellow of the society; but the annual payments may be compounded for by paying at once the sum of 60/. Fellows are entitled gratis to a copy of the Philosophical Transactions,' com mencing with that volume which is published next after their admission. Any fellow disobeying the statutes or orders of the society or council, or defaming the society by speaking, writing, or printing, or doing any thing detrimental or dishonourable to the society, will be ejected from it.
A prince of the blood, a peer of the United Kingdom, a member of the privy council, any foreign sovereign prince, or the son of such prince, may be proposed at one of the ordinary meetings of the society and voted for on the same day, notice having been given of ;melt pro posal at the preceding meeting of the society. Foreign members are eiempted from the obligations which ordinary fellows are enjoined to perform ; but their number is not to exceed.fifty. • The council and officers for the ensuing year are elected on the 30th of November; the latter consist of the president, treasurer, principal secretaries, and foreign secretary. The new council consists of eleven members of the existing council and of ten fellows who are not so. These are nominated previously to the anniversary meeting.
The ordinary meetings of the society are held once a week, from the third Thursday in November till the third Thursday in June, at half-past 8 ism., in the apartments at Burlington House.