Notes

Abstract

THE Oceanographical Museum at Monaco was inaugurated last week by the Prince of Monaco in the presence of a gathering of more than two hundred representatives of Governments, of scientific institutions, and of oceanographical research. Among many others present were:—M. Loubet, ex-President of the French Republic; M. Pichon, French Minister of Foreign Affairs; Admirals of the Fleet von Koester from Germany and Grenet from Italy; Vice-Admiral de Jonquières, commanding the French Mediterranean Squadron; and distinguished representatives of the Governments of Spain and Portugal. The Institute of France sent a large body of members representing the Academies of Sciences and of Fine Arts. The Academy of the Lincei at Rome, the Academies of Sciences at Berlin, Vienna, and St. Petersburg, the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh, the Geographical Societies of Paris, Berlin, Vienna, and St. Petersburg, the Challenger Society, and many other societies and institutions were amongst the societies sending delegates. The British Government was not represented officially, owing to some blunder, but Mr. W, E. Archer, of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr. J. Y. Buchanan, F.R.S., Dr. G. H. Fowler, Prof. W. A. Herdman, F.R.S., Dr. J. Scott Keltie, and Dr. H. R. Mill represented British marine studies. Among the leading men connected with oceanography, marine biology, and kindred sciences in other countries there were Mr. Bendall, of Bordeaux; Prof. Drygalski, of Munich; Prof. Forel, of Lausanne; Senator Grassi, of Rome; Prof. Haeckel, of Jena; Dr. P. P. C. Hoek, of Haarlem; Prof. Hensen, of Kiel; Prof. Hergesell, of Strassburg; Dr. Knipovitch, of St. Petersburg; Prof. Krümmel, of Kiel; M. de Margerie, of Paris; Prof. Otto Nordenskjöld, of Gothenburg; Prof. Penck, of Berlin; Prof. Perrier, of Paris; Prof. Pettersson, of Stockholm; Dr. Schmidt, of Copenhagen; Dr. Schott, of Hamburg; Prof. Supan, of Breslau; Prof. Thoulet, of Nancy; Prof. Max Weber, of Amsterdam; and Dr. Richard, director of the new museum, with Profs. Berget, Joubin, and Portier, of the Oceanographical Institute in Paris. The museum was inaugurated by the Prince of Monaco at a grand function on Tuesday, March 29; on the following day there was a banquet to three hundred guests, and the evenings were occupied by a special performance at the famous Opera House in Monte Carlo, a display of fireworks of extraordinary brilliance in the harbour, and finally by a magnificent State reception in the gorgeous apartments of the ancient palace of the Grimaldis. Meetings of four commissions, on the Atlantic, on the Mediterranean, on the perfecting of the Oceanographical Institute, and on the bathymetrical chart of the world, were held under the presidency of the Prince, and a summary of the proceedings will appear in another issue of NATURE. The Prince conferred the Order of St. Charles in four classes on a number of persons, amongst whom may be mentioned as receiving that of the second class, or commander, Mr. J. Y. Buchanan, Senator Grassi, Prof. Penck, and Dr. Richard. The princely hospitality displayed on the occasions extended to the provision of free hotel accommodation for all the visitors invited to the fêtes, while the representatives of States were entertained at the Palace as personal guests of the Prince.