The 250th Anniversary of the Royal Society

Abstract

AS the celebrations in connection with the anniversary of the Royal Society were in progress at the time of our going to press last week, we were unable on that occasion to do more than print the names of the foreign delegates and those of the British Dominions beyond the seas, and to give extracts from some of the speeches delivered at the reception and the City banquet. The programme arranged was carried through without alteration, and passed off satisfactorily. The garden party at Syon House was largely attended, and about 1000 persons were present at the conversazione, which was held in the rooms of the society on Wednesday night, when several interesting historical instruments were exhibited, among which mention may be made of the chronometer by Arnold used by Captain James Cook on his second and third voyages, an elec trical machine constructed by Dr. Joseph Priestley, the original model of Sir Humphry Davy's miners' safety lamp, a pair of compasses which belonged to Sir Christopher Wren, and Newton's original account of his reflecting telescope.