OF THE SOCIETY. 125 



1913. 



by the Rev. John Lillie, of St. Andrew s Church, Hobart, 

 published in the first number of the Tasmariian Journal, 

 give some account of the work of the Society, and of the 

 objects of its journal: — 



"The plan of the Tasmanian Journal of Science had its 

 "origin with a few individuals, w^ho recently formed them- 

 "selves into a Philosophical Society, principally with the 

 "view of assisting each other in the study of the nattu'al 

 "history of their adopted country. The meetings of this 

 "Society have been held once a fortnight, in the Library 

 "of Government House, where eveiy facility and encour- 

 "agement have been afforded them by their distinguished 

 "patron, Sir John Franklin, who has taken the liveliest 

 "interest in their proceedings, and contributed in no small 

 "degree, by his zealous co-operation and advice, to the 

 "publication of this Journal. 



"At these Meetings it has been usual for one of the 

 "members to read a paper upon some scientific subject^ 

 "which has afterwards been made the theme of conversation 

 "and friendly discussion. It is the papers read upon these 

 ■'occasions which have supplied materials for the present 

 "Journal, which, parvis componere magna, may tlierefore 

 "be regarded as the 'Transactions' of the infant Philosophi- 

 "cal Society of Tasmania. Its members, however, would 

 "not be understood as holding forth pretensions to the 

 "ambitious appellation of philosophei-s in the modern ac- 

 "ceptation of the term. On the contrary, they are deeply 

 "sensible that, in matters of science, they ai'e rather to be 

 "estimated by the sincerity and fondness of their atta<ch- 

 "ment, than either the strength of their powers, or the 

 "extent of their actual attainments. Most of them are 

 "actively engaged in professional and other necessary 

 "duties, which render it impossible for them to give more 

 "than a very limited share of their attention to scientific 

 "pursuits; and all of them labour under the gi^eat dis- 

 "advantage of a wide separation from the philosophical 

 "institutions and men of science in Europe. Living in 

 "this new and remote quarter of the world, where there is 

 "so much to awaken curiosity, they were naturally led, by 

 "the verv noveltv of the objects, as well as for the sake of 

 "their own mental improvement, to devote their few leisure 

 "moments to the study of external nature. And in com- 

 "ing thus broadly before the public, their object has prin- 

 "cipally been, besides stimulating and giving method and 

 "scope to their own exertions, to excite and cherish a 

 "kindred spirit of inquirv among their fellow colonists. 

 "Under the conviction that they are now living at the 



