| Reference number | NLB/46/765 |
| Alternative reference number | NLB/46 p457 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Copy letter from Robert William Frederick Harrison, to Professor Percy Faraday Frankland, Fellow of the Royal Society, Secretary of the Scientific Relief Committee |
| Date | 30 October 1912 |
| Description | Understands that he has receieved a formal application, as President of the Chemical Society, to send on a claim for relief from the Royal Society's Scientific Relief Fund for the benefit of a certain Dr A B Griffiths. Made enquiries of Mr Carr about this case because it was before the Relief Committee at their last meeting when, although they could not pass a definite vote in the absence of a formal application endorsed by the President of a learned society, they considered it sufficiently meritorious to pass a resolution empowering the Chairman to make a small grant if and when he received the formal recommendation of a Society's president.
Understands from Carr that due to the wording of the regulations of the Relief Committee Frankland did not feel justified in taking ay action upon the application until he has submitted it to his Council, but after conversation with the Chairman of the Relief Committee, Sir David Ferrier, he has suggested that Harrison point out that the 'understanding' that Presidents will consult their own Councils before endorsing an application has not been generally held to oblige them to make such consultation at a Council meeting, and that in urgent cases Presidents may put their names to an application after personal consultation with one or more members of their Councils conversant in the case.
Ferrier would like it pointed out that the Committee are not concerned with appraising the scientific eminence of applicants for relief, but so long as they can be satisfied that the person is a 'scientific man', they are guided by the merits of his case as one of distress. From Mrs Griffiths' letters the case seems to be one of actual destitution. Ferrier asks Harrison to say that Frankland can see his way to endorsing the application after such a consultation with his Council as he sees desirable. He is prepared to exercise power to give a small grant, at any rate, to Mrs Griffiths. |
| Extent | 1p |
| Format | Carbon |
| Physical description | Typescript |
| Access status | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | Name | Dates |
| NA2163 | Frankland; Percy Faraday (1858 - 1946); chemist | 1858 - 1946 |