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SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING. 



14Tn June, 1920. 



In Commemoration of the Centenary op the Birth of Sir William Macleat. 



Mr. .J. J. Fletcher, M.A., B.Se., President, in the Chair. 



Presidential Address, "The Society's Heritage from the Macleays." 



Brief Synopsis, and List of Some of the Exhibits. 



Yesterday (Sunday), the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Sir Wil- 

 liam Macleay, at Wiek, County Caithness, 13th June, 1820 — Came to Australia 

 with his cousin, W. S. Macleay, in March, 1839 — His scientific usefulness, and 

 how he came to be useful : in the first stage of his scientific career largely the 

 product of family influence and family example: the youngest and last of a suc- 

 cession of Macleays interested in Science — Other reasons for the Society's interest 

 in the Macleays: its Hall stands on part of the old garden, in proximity to the 

 old home — The Macleay collections are now in the possession of thy University of 

 Sydney : the accessibility of the collections to members of the Soeietj' for study 

 jtrovided for by Sir William — The Society's memorials of all of them, and of some 

 of their friends — Their long connection with the Linnean Society of London, 1794- 

 1891: and with the Australian Museum, ab inito (1826) to 1877 — Both branches 

 of the family in which it is interested have now come to an end in the direct line; 

 the Society may be considered to have inherited the family scientific traditi;>ns. 



The Macleayan Succession: Alexander Macle.w. F.R.S., F.L.S. (1767- 

 1848)— William Sharp Macleay, M.A., F.L.S., eldest son (1792-1865)— Sir 

 George Macleay, F.L.S., third son (1809-1891) — Sir William Macleay, Kt., 

 F.L.S., M.L.C, nephew (1820-91). 



Details of the development of their interest in science, and of their scientific 

 work — History of the old garden and of Elizabeth Bay Himsc; records of 

 scientific and other visitors — Records of their scientific and other friends — History 

 of the Macleay Collections up to the year 1874 [The account of their later develop- 

 ment, based on Sir William's own records, is reserved for another occasion] — 

 Memorials of all of them. 



Exhibits. 



Mementoes of Alexander Macleay: Portrait — Portraits of the Tradescants 

 (father and sim), Linnaeus (in his Lapland dress). Buff on, Peter CoUinson (Bot- 

 anist), George Edwards, Dr. William Hunter, Sir Ashton Lever, Dr. A. Russell, 

 Captain Cook, and William Curtis (with an inscription, from Dr. Sims). 



Books: Fr. Willughbeii Ornithologia (1626); Linnaci Systema Naturae 

 (1767) — Four author's reprints inscribed "from his affectionate friend," "from 

 Lis attached friend R. Brown" — Original made-up copy of J. W. Lewin's "Lepi- 

 dopterous Insects of Now South Wales." with the MS text and title page, as .sent 

 to England; original drawings of Lepidopterous larvae — Sale catalogue of collec- 

 tions. 



