president's address. 19 



do work; not rewards for such work as it lies within the reach 

 of an ordinary, or even an extraordinar}'-, young man to do." 



If Sir William Macleay's endowment of research were a matter 

 which concerned this Society, the University, and men of science 

 only, there would not be much need to enlarge upon its significance 

 and importance. But Sir William Macleay's prolific benefaction is 

 something which concerns a very much larger social aggregate 

 than the members of this Society and of the University only. In 

 reality it is a most munificent gift to this Society upon trust for 

 New South Wales. But even this statement does not fully meet 

 the case ; because, though the Fellows must be New South 

 Welshmen, in the sense that they must have graduated in science 

 at the University of Sydney, and that as Fellows they must be 

 domiciled in New South Wales, the results of their work are to 

 be added to the common stock for the benefit of humanity at 

 large. Therefore, I think I am not mistaken in my views when 

 I venture to say that it seems to be the duty of the Society, as 

 the administrator of the trust declared by Sir William, to 

 consider what can be done to arouse some intelligent public 

 appreciation of the heritage which his munificence has provided; 

 and at the same time to shed light upon what perhaps to those 

 outside the ranks of the strictly scientific is not, at first sight, 

 quite evident — its inner or hidden meaning. 



The term research, in its widest sense, has been defined " as 

 indicating those efforts of the human mind which result in the 

 extension of knowledge, whether such efforts are exerted in the 

 sphere of literature, of science, or of art." The entire field is so 

 vast, that the individual who desires to encourage research must 

 keep his plans within the limit of his resources. Sir William 

 Macleay was a naturalist, and therefore his provision for the 

 growth of knowledge took the form of the encouragement of 

 scientific research in those branches in which he himself was 

 specially interested and for whose promotion this Society was 

 instituted. 



In Australia, under present conditions, research mainly 

 devolves upon University teachers, the officers of Museums and of 



