PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 



Field, who published four of theui in his "Geographical Memoirs"; 

 — No. 1. " On the Aborigines of New Holland and Van Dienian's 

 Land" — read January 2, 1822. 2. "On the Geology of part of 

 the coast of New South Wales, fi-om Hunter River to tlie Clyde" 

 read in the same year by Alexander Berry. 3. " On the 

 Astronomy of the Southern Hemisphere," by Dr. Rumker — read 

 March 13, 1822. 4. "On the Maritime Geography of Australia," 

 by Captain P. P. King, R.N.— read October 2, 1822. Mr. 

 Oxley also read a paper, and Major Goulburn some notes on 

 meteorological observations ; and lastly, Sir Thomas Brisbane 

 counnunicated meteorological observations. We liave evidence, 

 therefore, that seven at least of the twelve were workers. Allan 

 Cunningham (botanist) also contributed papers to Judge Field's 

 memoirs — one describing his travels from Bathurst to Liverpool 

 Plains in 1823, and the second on the botany of the Blue Moun- 

 tains, as observed in November and December 1822. Judge Field 

 does not say that these papers were read to the Society, so that he 

 may 7iot have been a member, but without doubt all the members 

 •did good service in the colony. The Society which was thus com- 

 menced with such flattering promise of usefulness was destined to 

 but a brief period of existence. A question arose between the 

 Government and some of the members as to the value of the 

 dollar — the coin then current — which led to estrangement and 

 the breaking up of the little band of workers who cultivated 

 science. It appears that this was caused by the decree that the 

 dollar, after the centre had been punched out to make a small 

 coin equal in value to sixpence and known as a " bit," should 

 still pass for its original value, the effect of which was severely 

 felt by business people, because it raised the value of the pound 

 sterling 25 per cent. But the great work which Sir Thomas did 

 in Australia, and what I am disposed to think induced him to 

 accept the position of Governor in the distant colony, was his 

 astronomical work. He had applied before taking the appoint- 

 ment for the consent of the Government to start an observatory 

 when he got to Sydney, but that being refused, on the ground 

 that they were then making arrangements to establish ;in 

 observatory at the Cape, and did not think it necessary to have 

 two southern observatories, he at once determined to take the 

 whole cost and responsibility upon himself, purchased a comple- 

 ment of instruments, and selected two assistants, Dr. Rumker, 

 as a first-class astronomer and mathematician, and Mr. Dunlop, 

 for his great natural ability and enthusiasm in the pursuit of 

 astronomy. He brought the whole with him, astronomers and 

 instruments landing in Sydney in Novemljer, 1821. Tlie observatory 

 was at once marked out, within one hundred yards of Government 

 House, Parramatta, so that he could at any convenient time take a 

 share in the work ; but he could not wait for the building. I find, 

 from the observations, that he observed the sun's solstice in 



