Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (1701-)

NOTICE. original: "ADVERTISEMENT"

The Committee appointed by the Royal Society to oversee the publication of the Philosophical Transactions takes this opportunity to inform the public of several facts. It is clearly evident—from the Society's Council books and Journals as well as from repeated statements made in several previous Transactions—that until the forty-seventh volume, the printing of these volumes was always the individual act of the respective Secretaries. As a formal organization original: "as a Body", the Society never involved itself further in their publication than by occasionally recommending that their Secretaries resume them if, due to specific circumstances, the Transactions had been paused original: "intermitted" for any length of time. This was primarily done to reassure the public that their regular meetings were continuing for the advancement of knowledge and the benefit of humanity. These were the great goals of their original founding by Royal Charters, which they have consistently pursued ever since.

However, as the Society has grown significantly in recent years and the number of scientific reports original: "communications" has increased, it was decided that a Committee of members should be appointed to review the papers read before them and select those most suitable for publication in future Transactions. This was officially put into effect on March 26, 1752. The criteria for their selection are, and will remain, the importance and uniqueness original: "singularity" of the subjects, or the effective way they are presented. The Committee does not claim to guarantee the accuracy of the facts or the validity of the reasoning contained in the various papers published; these must still rest on the reputation and judgment of their respective authors.

It is also necessary on this occasion to note that it is an established rule of the Society, which they will always follow, never to give a collective opinion as an organization...