I propose to deal with the subject of this paper under three headings : First, a brief summary of Cayley's life and character; second, an account of his work on navigable balloons; and third, a like account of his work on mechanical flight. The latter sections will be prefaced with a short survey of the state of those two branches of aeronautical science at the period of Cayley's youth. It should, perhaps, be added by way of introduction, that Cayley's place as a pioneer in .aeronautics has not yet been fully assessed. His name is barely mentioned in that greatly over-rated, ill-arranged and cumbrous compilation, “ Astra Castra,” published by Hatton Turnor in 1865, and it is entirely omitted from the “ Dictionary of National Biography.”

A meeting of the Society was held in the rooms of the Royal Society of Arts, Adelphi, London, on Thursday, February 15th, 1923, Professor L. Bairstow presiding. The Chairman, referring to the paper to be read, namely, on “ The Practical Aspect of Seaplanes,” by Wing Commander T. R. Cave-Browne-Cave, C.B.E., said that this was the third of the series of lectures on seaplanes, a series which came into being mainly at the instigation of Wing Commander Cave-Browne-Cave. The lecturer was a member of the Council of the Society, and had thought that it woqld be advisable to have a connected series of papers of this description ; it could be said that the policy adopted had been successful and would be rounded off by that evening’s lecture. The author, in the beginning of the paper, explained what his position was, and that the paper represented other views in addition to his own, so that he (the Chairman) did not propose to enter into that subject, but he asked those present to note, when the paper was read, how the whole cause of seaplane development cried out loudly for further experiment. The conclusions in the paper were more definite than those they usually associated with pilots’ opinions on the flying of aircraft, but that they were generally sound he himself had some reason to know. On the other hand, it was quite clear from the paper that the author had not been able to put into numerical form many things which he knew were true in a general way. He then called upon the author to read his paper.

Meeting of the Society was held at the Royal Society of Arts on Thursday, March ist, 1923, Professor L. Bairstow, C.B.E., F.R.S., in the chair. The Chairman, in calling upon Major F. M. Green to read his paper on “ Air Travel, with Special Reference to the Helicopter,” said that many of those present would be able to> agree with the very critical review of the problem given by the lecturer, and it would be an advantage perhaps to the progress of aviation if the Society gave a technical opinion as to the value of the helicopter as a means of air travel.

Before entering upon the subject of my lecture I beg to express my feelings of gratitude for the honour and appreciation of my efforts, implied in the invitation to speak on metal aeroplane construction before so eminent and learned a body as the Royal Aeronautical Society.

In consideration of the general political situation I deem myself entitled to attribute to this invitation the deeper meaning of a token of amiable disposition given apart and beyond my person, from nation to nation, and to see in it an effort of renewing the ties of a genuine humanity, which is well aware of the unavoidableness of conflict and fight, but does not know hatred, and desires to extinguish the sad traces of a devastating war by hoisting the flag of peaceful competition.