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onally contain medical papers of very moderate merit； and； in the second； the preponderance of the medical interest introduces into the Society some of the jealousies of that profession。 On the other hand； medicine is intimately connected with many sciences； and its professors are usually too much occupied in their practice to exert themselves； except upon great occasions。
SECTION 4。
OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTION ON THE ROYAL SOCIETY。
The Royal Institution was founded for the cultivation of the more popular and elementary branches of scientific knowledge； and has risen； partly from the splendid discoveries of Davy； and partly from the decline of the Royal Society； to a more prominent station than it would otherwise have occupied in the science of England。 Its general effects in diffusing knowledge among the more educated classes of the metropolis； have been； and continue to be； valuable。 Its influence； however； in the government of the Royal Society； is by no means attended with similar advantages； and has justly been viewed with considerable jealousy by many of the Fellows of that body。 It may be stated； without disparagement to the Royal Institution； that the scientific qualifications necessary for its officers； however respectable； are not quite of that high order which ought to be required for those of the Royal Society； if the latter body were in a state of vigour。
The Royal Institution interest has always been sufficient to appoint one of the Secretaries of the Royal Society； and at the present moment they have appointed two。 In a short time； unless some effectual check is put to this； we shall find them nominating the President and the rest of the officers。 It is certainly not consistent with the dignity of the Royal Society thus to allow its offices to be given away as the rewards of services rendered to other institutions。 The only effectual way to put a stop to this increasing interest would be； to declare that no manager or officer of the Royal Institution should ever； at the same time； hold office in the Royal Society。
The use the Members of the Royal Institution endeavour to make of their power in the Council of the Royal Society； is exemplified in the minutes of the Council of March 11； 1830； which may be consulted with advantage by those who doubt。
SECTION 5。
OF THE TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY。
The Transactions of the Royal Society； unlike those of most foreign academies； contain nothing relating to the history of the Society。 The volumes contain merely those papers communicated to the Society in the preceding year which the Council have selected for printing； a meteorological register； and a notice of the award of the annual medals； without any list of the Council and officers of the Society； by whom that selection and that award have been made。
Before I proceed to criticise this state of things； I will mention one point on which I am glad to he able to bestow on the Royal Society the highest praise。 I refer to the extreme regularity with which the volumes of the Transactions are published。 The appearance of the half…volumes at intervals of six months； insures for any communication almost immediate publicity； whilst the shortness of the time between its reception and publication； is a guarantee to the public that the whole of the paper was really communicated at the time it bears date。 To this may also be added； the rarity of any alterations made previously to the printing； a circumstance which ought to be imitated； as well as admired； by other societies。 There may； indeed； be some； perhaps the Geological； in which the task is more difficult； from the nature of the subject。 The sooner； however； all societies can reduce themselves to this rule； of rarely allowing any thing but a few verbal corrections to papers that are placed in their hands； the better it will be for their own reputation； and for the interests of science。
It has been； and continues to be； a subject of deep regret； that the first scientific academy in Europe； the Institute of France； should be thus negligent in the regularity of its publications； and it is the more to be regretted； that it should be years in arrear； from the circumstance； that the memoirs admitted into their collection are usually of the highest merit。 I know some of their most active members have wished it were otherwise； I would urge them to put a stop to a practice； which； whilst it has no advantages to recommend it； is unjust to those who contribute； and is only calculated to produce conflicting claims； equally injurious to science； and to the reputation of that body； whose negligence may have given rise to them。 ＇Mr。 Herschel； speaking of a paper of Fresnel's； observes〃This memoir was read to the Institute； 7th of October； 1816； a supplement was received； 19th of January； 1818； M。 Arago's report on it was read； 4th of June； 1821： and while every optical philosopher in Europe has been impatiently expecting its appearance for seven years； it lies as yet unpublished； and is only known to us by meagre notices in a periodical journal。〃MR HERSCHEL'S TREATISE ON LIGHT； p。 533。 ENCYCLOPAEDIA METROPOLITANA。＇
One of the inconveniences arising from having no historical portion in the volumes of the Royal Society is； that not only the public； but our own members are almost entirely ignorant of all its affairs。 With a means of giving considerable publicity （by the circulation of above 800 copies of the Transactions） to whatever we wish to have made known to our members or to the world； will it be credited； that no notice was taken in our volume for 1826； of the foundation of two Royal medals； nor of the conditions under which they were to be distributed。 ＇That the Council refrained from having their first award of those medals thus communicated； is rather creditable to them； and proves that they had a becoming feeling respecting their former errors。＇ That in 1828； when a new fund； called the donation fund； was established； and through the liberality of Dr。 Wollaston and Mr。 Davies Gilbert； it was endowed by them with the respective sums of 2；000L。 and 1；000L。 3 per cents； no notice of such fact appears in our Transactions for 1829。 Other gentlemen have contributed； and if it is desirable to possess such a fund； it is surely of importance to inform the non…attending； which is by far the largest part of the Society； that it exists； and that we are grateful to those by whom it has been founded and augmented。 Neither did the Philosophical Transactions inform our absent members； that they could purchase the President's Discourses at the trade…price。
The list of the Officers； Council； and Members of the Royal Society is printed annually； yet； who ever saw it bound up with the Philosophical Transactions； to which it is intended to be attached？ I never met with a single copy of that work so completed； not even the one in our own library。 It is extremely desirable that the Society should know the names of their Council； and whilst it would in some measure contribute to prevent the President from placing incompetent persons upon it； it would also afford some check； although perhaps but a slight one； on the distribution of t