Scientific Societies in 1900 London

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RARE EARLY SNUFF BOTTLE BOOK 1935 BY LONDON ENGLAND PROFESSOR 116 ILLUSTRATIONS
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4 Heavy London England Antique 1840s Crested Sterling Silver Dinner Plates NR
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Arthur H. Beavan conducted the following survey of scientific institutions in Imperial London, published in 1901:

One hundred years ago there were few learned societies in existence; the Royal Society, the Royal Institution, the Society of Arts, the Society of Antiquarians, the Linnean Society, and the Geological Society.

These still flourish in London, but not many additions have been made to this list of strictly scientific associations, only the Archaeological, the Royal Astronomical, and the Royal Meteorological having come into being during the nineteenth century.

The Royal Society Its Charter-book, a splendid work of art, is bound in crimson velvet with gold ornamentation, and contains priceless autographs of successive British sovereigns, from King Charles II to King Edward VII, and of all who have ever been Fellows of the Society, as well as of every celebrity in the world of knowledge for the last two hundred and thirty-eight years.

The Royal Institution It contains laboratories, model rooms, reading rooms, a library, and a commodious theatre for lectures, wherein Sir Humphry Davy, Faraday, Tyndall, and many other distinguished scientists, have unfolded in turn the marvels of science to packed and attentive audiences.

The Society of Arts Its aims, as stated in its Royal Charter, may be summarized as being "generally to assist in the advancement, development, and practical application of every department of science in connection with the arts, manufactures, and commerce of this country."

Society of Antiquarians It has a valuable library, containing wonderful topographical and archaeological works, besides rare prints of Old London, and MSS., and original letters of eighteenth-century literary men; it also possesses some curious old paintings.

The Linnean Society The Society has a good library, and a herbarium, the nucleus of which was the collection made by Linnaeus, the great Swedish botanist, and purchased for the Society.

The Royal Astronomical Society The Royal Astronomical Society is also housed on the same side of the Burlington House quadrangle as the Linnean Society.

The Geological Society In the library are some very precious treatises of the seventeenth century, referring to the fanciful ideas then held respecting the formation of the earth, etc, and the origin of fossils, etc.

Archaeological Societies Both these Societies are doing good work by holding series of meetings, when all sorts of facts relating to the historical past of Britain are communicated, and by causing excavations to be made in those parts of the country where Roman and other antiquities may be found.

The Royal Geographical Society Various medals, much coveted, are given by the Society to distinguished explorers, and other deserving workers in the cause of geography.

The Royal Meteorological Society Of recent growth is the Royal Meteorological Society, Great George Street, Westminster, founded for the purpose of encouraging every kind of scientific investigation of the earth's atmosphere and its phenomena.

The Institution of Electrical Engineers What electricity is to the world in the new century, is best stated in Lord Kelvin's own words. "In most departments of applied engineering," he says, "we are the heirs of the ages, but with regard to electricity the case is different.

The Royal Photographic Society Improvements in process and appliances are on view, and every development of the inquisitional and mysterious "New Photography" which takes unseen objects; while the beautiful "Natural Colour Photography" is eagerly watched by scientists, for it is superfluous to remark that photography is now the indispensable handmaiden of scientific research.

The Chemical Society It gives the most delightful conversaziones, always largely attended, but absolutely packed when any demonstration, such as of the X-rays, is expected, when young ladies and their companions of the sterner sex are equally desirous to have depicted in gruesome fashion, their osseous charms, their hands as skeletons, the working of their elbow joints, and the articulation of their wrists and fingers.