GENERAL MONTHLY MEETING, Monday, February 5, 1894. SIR JAMES CRICHTON-BROWNE, M.D. LL.D. F.R.S. Treasurer and Vice-President, in the Chair. His Grace The Duke of Bedford, The Right Hon. The Earl of Derby, G.C.B. The Right Hon. Lord Justice Sir Horace Davey, Lord Greeneck, Mrs. Fleming Baxter, were elected Members of the Royal Institution. The Honorary Secretary read the following letter from Mrs. Tyndall: DEAR FRIENDS, HINDHEAD HOUSE, HASLEMERE, I thank you from my heart for your kind sympathy in my unspeakable grief. (Signed) LOUISA C. TYNDALL. TO SIR FREDERICK BRAMWELL, Bart. and The PRESENTS received since the last Meeting were laid on the table, and the thanks of the Members returned for the same, viz: FROM The Lords of the Admiralty-Nautical Almanac for 1897. 8vo. The New Zealand Government-Statistics of the Colony of New Zealand, 1892. fol. 1893. Accademia dei Lincei, Reale, Roma-Atti, Serie Quinta: Rendiconti. Classe di Scienze fisische matematiche e naturali. 2o Semestre, Vol. II. Fasc. 10, 11. 1o Semestre, Vol. III. Fasc. 1. 8vo. 1893. Classe di Scienze Morali Storiche e Filologiche, Serie Quinta, Vol. II. Fasc. 10, 11. 8vo. 1893. Agricultural Society of England, Royal--Journal, 3rd Series, Vol IV. Part 4. 8vo. 1893. Astronomical Society, Royal-Monthly Notices, Vol. LIV. Nos. 1, 2. 8vo. 1893. Bankers, Institute of-Journal, Vol. XIV. Part 9; Vol. XV. Part 1. 8vo. 1893-4. Birmingham Philosophical Society-Proceedings, Vol. VIII. Part 2. 8vo. 1893. Boston Society of Natural History-Memoirs, Vol. IV. No. 11. 4to. 1893. Geology of Boston Basin. By W. O. Crosby. Vol. I. No. 1. 8vo. 1893. Bowman, The Dowager Lady-Collected Papers of Sir William Bowman, Bart. 2 vols. 4to. 1892. British Architects, Royal Institute of-Proceedings, 1893-4, Nos. 3-7. 4to. California State Mining Bureau-Eleventh Annual Report. With Maps. 8vo. 1893. Cambridge Philosophical Society-Proceedings, Vol. VIII. Part 2. 8vo. 1894. Chemical Industry, Society of-Journal, Vol. XII. No. 12. 8vo. 1893. Chili, Société Scientifique de-Actes: Tome III. Livr. 1, 2. 8vo. 1893. Davis, Frederick, Esq.-Catalogue de la Collection Spitzer, Vol. V. fol. Athenæum for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 4to. Author for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. Brewers' Journal for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 4to. 4to. Chemist and Druggist for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 8vo. Electrical Review for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. Electricity for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 8vo. Electric Plant for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 8vo. Horological Journal for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 8vo. Industries and Iron for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. fol. Ironmongery for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 4to. Iron and Coal Trades Review for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 8vo. Lightning for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 8vo. Machinery Market for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 8vo. Monist for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. Nature for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 8vo. 4to. Open Court for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 4to. Photographic Work for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 8vo. Transport for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. fol. Tropical Agriculturist for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 8vo. Zoophilist for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 4to. Florence, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale-Bolletino, Nos. 191 to 193. 8vo. 1893. Franklin Institute-Journal, No. 817. 8vo. 1893. Fraser, Colonel A. T. R.E. M.R.I.-Photograph of Dwarfs, Hindus, and Weavers of Markapur, Kurnool District, Madras Presidency. Geneva, Société de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle-Mémoires, Tome XXI. Part 2. 4to. 1892-3. Geographical Society, Royal-Geographical Journal for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 8vo. 1894. Supplementary Papers, Vol. III. Part 5. 8vo. 1893. Geological Institute, Imperial, Vienna-Verhandlungen, 1893, Nos. 11-14. 8vo. Glasgow, Philosophical Society of-Proceedings, Vol. XXIV. 8vo. 1893. Institute of Brewing-Transactions, Vol. VII. No. 2. 8vo. 1893. Ives, Frederick E. Esq. (the Author)-Handbook to the Photochromoscope. 8vo. 1894. Johns Hopkins University—American Chemical Journal, Vol. XVI. No. 1. 8vo. 1894. American Journal of Philology, Vol. XIV. No. 4. 8vo. 1893. University Circular, No. 108. 4to. 1893. Studies in Historical and Political Science, Eleventh Series, Nos. 11, 12. 8vo. 1893. Keeler, James E. Esq. D.Sc.-Physical Observations of Mars. 8vo. 1893. Manchester Geological Society-Transactions, Vol. XXII. Part 13. 8vo. 1893. 1893. Mechanical Engineers' Institution of-Proceedings, 1893, No. 3. 8vo. Meteorological Office-Report of the Meteorological Council for the year ending March 1893. 8vo. 1893. Microscopical Society, Royal-Journal, 1893, Part 6. 8vo. Ministry of Public Works, Rome-Giornale del Genio Civile, 1893, Fasc. 9, 10. 8vo. And Designi. fol. New York Academy of Sciences-Annals, Vol. VIII. Nos. 1-3. 8vo. 1893. Norman, C. C. Esq. (the Proprietor)-London County Council Debates, Vol. I. Odontological Society of Great Britain-Transactions, Vol. XXVI. Nos. 1, 2. 8vo. 1893. Parry, C. Hubert, Esq. Mus. Doc. (the Author)-The Art of Music. 8vo. 1893. Payne, Wm. W. Esq. and Hale, Geo. E. Esq. (the Editors)-Astronomy and AstroPhysics for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 8vo. Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain-Journal for Dec. 1893 and Jan. 1894. 8vo. Calendar, 1894. 8vo. Philadelphia, Academy of Natural Sciences of-Proceedings, 1893, Part 2. 8vo. Photographic Society of Great Britain—Journal and Transactions, Vol. XVIII. No. 1. 8vo. 1893. Physical Society of London-Proceedings, Vol. XII. Part 3. 8vo. 1893. Richardson, Sir B. W. M.D. F.R.S. M.R.I. (the Author)—The Asclepiad, 1893, No. 3. 8vo. Rio de Janeiro Observatory-Annuario, 1893. 8vo. Royal Irish Academy-Transactions, Vol. XXX. Parts 5, 7-10. 4to. 1893. Royal Society of London-Proceedings, Nos. 328, 329. 9vo. 1893. Salford Free Libraries-Annual Report, 1892-3. 8vo. Sazon Society of Sciences, Royal-Mathematisch-Physische Classe, Abhandlungen, Band XX. Nos. 3, 4. 8vo. 1893. Scottish Microscopical Society-Proceedings, 1891-3. 8vo. Scottish Society of Arts, Royal-Transactions, Vol. XIII. Part 3. 8vo. 1893. Selborne Society-Nature Notes, Nos. 48, 49. 8vo. 1893. Sidgreaves, The Rev. W. F.R.A.S. (the Author)—The Physical Constitution of the Sun. 8vo. 1893. Singha, Indra Chundra (the Author)-Kalyana Manjusha; or, the Casket of Blessings. 8vo. Calcutta, 1893. Smith, The Hon. W. F. D. M.P. M.R.I.-The Life and Times of the Right Hon. W. H. Smith, M.P. By Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bart. M.P. 2 vols. 8vo. 1893. Smithsonian Institution-Miscellaneous Collections, Nos. 630, 664, 665, 843. 8vo. 1893. Bureau of Ethnology, Ninth Annual Report, 1887-8. 4to. 1892. 66 Bibliography of the Salishan Languages. By J. C. Pilling. 8vo. 1893. Socidad Cientifica “ Antonio Alzate," Mexico-Memorias, Tomo VII. Num. 3, 4. 8vo. 1893. Society of Architects-Journal, New Series, Vol. I. No. 2. 8vo. 1893. Statistical Society, Royal-Journal, Vol. LVI. Part 4. 8vo. 1893. Surgeon-General's Office, U.S. Army-Index Catalogue of the Library, Vol. XIV. 4to. 1893. Sweden Royal Academy of Sciences—Bihang (Supplément aux Mémoires), Band XVIII. 8vo. 1893. Tacchini, Professor P. Hon. Mem. R.I. (the Author)—Memorie della Societá degli Spettroscopisti Italiani, Vol. XXII. Disp. 10a, 11a. 4to. 1893. Vol. XX. Disp. 1-6. 8vo. 1891. Toronto, University of Mathematical and Physical Society of Toronto. Papers, 1891-2. 8vo. 1892. Pathological Society of Toronto. Proceedings, Vols. I. II. 4to. 1889-91. United Service Institution, Royal-Journal, Nos. 190, 191. 8vo. 1893. United States Department of Agriculture-Monthly Weather Review for Sept. 1893. 4to. 1893. Report of the Secretary of Agriculture, 1893. 8vo. United States Patent Office-Official Gazette, Vol. LXVI. Nos. 1-4. 8vo. 1893. Vereins zur Beförderung des Gewerbfleisses in Preussen-Verhandlungen, 1893: Heft 9, 10. 4to. 1893. Victoria Institute-Transactions, Vol. XXVI. No. 105. 8vo. 1893. WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, Friday, February 9, 1894. BASIL WOODD SMITH, Esq. F.R.A.S. F.S.A. Vice-President, in the Chair. PROFESSOR W. F. R. WELDON, M.A. F.R.S. Fortuitous Variation in Animals. [No Abstract.] WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, Friday, February 16, 1894. SIR JAMES CRICHTON-BROWNE, M.D. LL.D. F.R.S. Treasurer and Vice-President, in the Chair. PROFESSOR NICHOL, M.A. LL.D. Bacon's Key to Nature. No English writer of equal eminence is so inadequately known by the mass of his countrymen as Lord Bacon. Every man and woman of culture is more or less familiar with the Essays: few have turned ten pages of Organum,' glanced at the De Sapientia Veterum,' or ventured into one grove of the 'Sylva Sylvarum." Save as a writer of fine sentences, Bacon has been generally judged by Pope's lampooning line, Lord Campbell's shallow summary, and the farthest adrift of Lord Macaulay's estimates. The moral charges brought against him are at least plausible, though often gross, exaggerations, but the popular travesty of his system set forth by his most eloquent English critic is ludicrous. The writer's diffuseness of illustration permits the whole gist of fifty bright and delusive pages to be given in two. "Bacon," says Macaulay, "was neither a philosopher nor a logician, but a reformer. The peculiarity of his work lay in the fact of its object being altogether different from any which his predecessors had proposed. They had wasted their dialectic on labours like those spent on a treadmill. He strove not to solve enigmas, but to enrich man's estate. The ancient philosophy disdained to be useful, and was content to be stationary. The reviewer finds on the tree which Socrates planted and Plato watered, flowers but no fruit. To the revolving questions of the Schools he answers, " Cur quis non prandeat hoc est.' "The aim of Plato," he concludes, "was to exalt man into a god; that of Bacon, to supply him with what he wants as a man. The one drew a good bow, but shot at the stars; the other fixed his eye on a common target, and hit it in the white. While the world was resounding with doctrinal disputes, the traitorous friend and pure philanthropist (!), leaving the windy war to those who liked it, was content to add to the sum of human happiness." Macaulay often talks of the absolute originality of the Novum Organum,' of the new era it opened up, but, in flat contradiction of himself, he asserts in his essay that the author's benevolent aim was the sum and substance of his philosophy. The notion that he invented a new method of arriving at truth by indiuratio Magna |