The Tercentenary Conversazione, 23 July 1960

• Published in: Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Royal Society 1961
• Subjects: Antarctic; Burlington; Mace; Patagonia; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsnr.1961.0004; https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsnr.1961.0004

The Conversazione on Saturday 23 July, honoured by the presence of H.R.H. The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was the principal occasion during the Celebrations when the Society was able to entertain its guests within Burlington House. This was made possible by the generous co-operation of the neighbouring Societies in Burlington House, and the willingness of the Presidents and Councils of the Society of Antiquaries, the Royal Academy of Arts, the Royal Astronomical Society, the Chemical Society, the Geological Society and the Linnean Society not only to open their rooms but also to arrange appropriate exhibits for the occasion. Some 2000 persons attended and in addition to the scientific exhibits they were able to view the Academy’s i960 Summer Exhibition of oil paintings, water colours, pastels, tempera and miniatures; drawings, engravings, etchings; sculpture; architectural drawings and models in the main galleries of the Royal Academy of Arts. Two colour films, each relating to expeditions directly sponsored by the Society, were on view during the evening, Halley Bay, prepared by members of the Society’s I.G.Y. Antarctic Expedition, was shown in the Meeting Room of the Society of Antiquaries and South from Chiloe , which described the Society’s expedition to Southern Chile to study biological and geological problems among the islands of Western Patagonia, was shown in the Meeting Room of the Geological Society. In the Royal Society’s own rooms there were displayed some three hundred congratulatory addresses as well as the several gifts received by the Society from Academies, Universities and Learned Institutions from all over the world on the occasion of the Tercentenary Celebrations (see pp. 103-113). These were arranged around the walls and on tables in the Library making a very impressive display. The Society’s own Treasures, the Mace, the Charter Book, the manuscript of the Principia and Newton’s telescope were also on view and in addition there was a small exhibit of books and pamphlets illustrating ...