president's address. 23 



At the Meeting of the American Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science in 1891, the President^ Professor Prescott, spoke 

 these remarkable words : — 



"There is no greater need in this land — unless it be the 

 exclusive need of righteousness itself — than the need of advance- 

 ment in science. Let this be understood by all, if America is 

 not to fall short in the nurture of manhood, in the reach of mind 

 and in the arts of peace, if she is not to fall short altogether, she 

 must advance in science, and must cherish her workers in 

 scientific research." 



Is such a statement of the case one whit less applicable to 

 Australia than to America or to any other country 1 



Then it is not too much to say that by no one in Australia 

 has this need been realised more fully than by Sir William 

 Macleay; for his actions were but the corollary to his beliefs. 

 Looked at separately and from without, his various important 

 scientific undertakings — the development of the Macleay Museum, 

 the development and endowment of the Linnean Society of New 

 South Wales, the endowment of Bacteriological research, and the 

 endowment of Fellowships — may seem to the uninitiated to be 

 merely so many unconnected enterprises. But when viewed 

 from within, they are seen to dovetail into one another, and yet 

 all to hinge on to a central idea, which is their raison d'etre — 

 the advancement of science. 



Some American Object Lessons. 



During my recent visit to the United States, Canada and 

 Europe, I made it my endeavour, as far as possible, to look into 

 several matters which are of special interest to me. And here I 

 should like to express my heartiest appreciation of the courtesy 

 and kindness everywhere extended to me, by perfect strangers, no 

 matter how high their official positions. On the present occasion I 

 shall confine myself to the consideration of two or three American 

 topics which I think will not bed evoid of interest to you. At 

 the same time I would point out that it is not the impressions 



