president's address. 823 



have induced them to take up their residence outside New South 

 Wales. Messrs. Brazier and Whitelegge have also resigned from 

 the Council. 



We have to deplore the loss of our oldest Honorary Member, 

 Baron F. von Mueller, who was elected on the 22nd January, 

 1876. To this event T shall take the opportunity of referring 

 presently. 



The distinguished Algologist, Professor G. B. Toni, of Padua, 

 has been elected an Honorary Member of the Society. 



In accordance with the resolution passed at the beginning of 

 last year, a sound investment having been found for the funds 

 left by the late Sir William Macleay, the Council took steps to 

 invite applications in England and the Colony for the position of 

 Macleay Bacteriologist. Five applications were received, but 

 after considering the qualifications of the applicants, the Council 

 has decided not to appoint any of them, but to give a wider 

 publicity to the Society's requirements and advertise afresh later 

 on with a view to obtaining a better selection. In the meantime, 

 the principal will be increased by the year's interest, so that 

 pecuniarily the delay will not be a loss. 



Baron F. von Mueller. 



I must now take the opportunity of sa3"ing a few words in 

 tribute of respect to the memory of the late Baron F. von Mueller, 

 whose friendship and good qualities many of us learnt to appreciate. 



I do not intend to oflPer a lengthy account of the Baron's life, 

 as that has alread}^ been done by others far more fitted to the 

 task than myself. I may refer to the interesting account given 

 in the " Sydney Mail " of the 17th October last, written some 

 time ago by the late Rev. Dr. Woolls, and to that published in the 

 "Victorian Naturalist," (No. 7, Vol. xiii.), which is due to the 

 able and sympathetic pen of Professor Baldwin Spencer. 



Baron F. von Mueller is a fit compeer of such men as Robert 

 Brown, Dr. Hooker, and Mr. Bentham. He was a man of 

 indomitable energy and perseverance, and during his ii years 

 of otficial life he achieved such results as few can boast of. 



