Gift from the American Philosophical Society

Abstract

The President has suggested that the Fellows will be interested to read the correspondence that passed between the American Philosophical Society and the Royal Society concerning the recent gift to the Society of the sum of $10,000. The American Philosophical Society has set aside from its annual budget the sum of $10,000 to be made available for the aid of science and learning in Britain. The President of the Society consulted the office of the British Consulate General in Philadelphia and has just received a letter from the Acting Consul- General, a copy of which is enclosed herewith. This indicates that the Royal Society under its Charter would use this gift for the promotion of natural knowledge. Inasmuch as it was the desire of the American Philosophical Society not only to aid the Royal Society but also to have it distribute part of this sum to those institutions and agencies where it would be most needed, a question has arisen whether the Royal Society would undertake this service. In the hope that you may be willing to do this, we are this day cabling to the Royal Society a credit for $10,000, and we request you to distribute this money where it may be of greatest service to science and learning in Britain. We make this gift in filial regard for the Royal Society which was the model upon which Benjamin Franklin in 1743 founded ‘The American Philosophical Society for Promoting Useful Knowledge in the British Plantations in America’ and as evidence of the spirit of friendship and common purpose among men of science in both countries.