t and most philosophical
botanist of our own country, and who is admired abroad as he is
respected at home. The circumstance which surprised the world was not
his exit from, but his previous entrance into that Society.]

CHAPTER IV. STATE OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY IN PARTICULAR.

As the venerable first parent of English, and I might perhaps say, of
European scientific societies; as a body in the welfare of which, in
the opinions of many, the interests of British science are materially
involved, I may be permitted to feel anxiously, and to speak more in
detail.

SECTION 1. MODE OF BECOMING A FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY.

I have no intention of stating what ought to be the qualifications of
a Fellow of the Royal Society; but, for years, the practical mode of
arriving at that honour, has been as follows:--

A. B. gets any three Fellows to sign a certificate, stating that he
(A. B.) is desirous of becoming a member, and likely to be a useful and
valuable one. This is handed in to the Secretary, and suspended in the
meeting-room. At the end of ten weeks, if A. B. has the good fortune to
be perfectly unknown by any literary or scientific achievement, however
small, he is quite sure of being elected as a matter of course. If, on
the other hand, he has unfortunately written on any subject connected
with science, or is supposed to be acquainted with any branch of it, the
members begin to inquire what he has done to deserve the honour;
and, unless he has powerful friends, he has a fair chance of being
black-balled. [I understand that certificates are now read at the
Council, previously to their being hung up in the meeting-room; but I am
not aware that this has in the slightest degree diminished their number,
which was, at the time of writing this note, TWENTY-FOUR.]

In fourteen years' experience, the few whom I have seen rejected,
have all been known persons; but even in such cases a hope
remains;--perseverance will do much, and a gentleman who values so
highly the distinction of admission to the Royal Society, may try
again; and even after being twice black-balled, if he will a third time
condescend to express his desire to become a member, he may perhaps
succeed, by the aid of a hard canvass. In such circumstances, the odds
are much in favour of the candidate possessing great scientific claims;
and the only objection that could then reasonably be suggested, would
arise from his estimating rather too highly a distin