PROCEEDINGS, MAY, Xxvii 



sorry he did not obtain from England the assistance he asked for. 

 England had identified herself with Antarctic exploration, for Captain 

 Cook had sailed as far south as 71deg. a century ago, and it would be 

 derogatory to our credit to let Sweden or any other nationality take 

 the work to a more successful issue. In Tasmania we occupied a vantage 

 ground in respect to this exploration, and the colony would most 

 probably form the base of operations. In this colony we lived in an 

 atmosphere of discovery, and we should possess in vain the statue 

 standing in Franklin-square if we did not feel the dsepest interest in 

 any future Antarctic discovery. As an offshoot of Great Britain we 

 should be wanting in the national characteristics if we did not take the 

 responsibilities as well as the advantages of the origin. Such 

 responsibilities, in this part of the world, could not be better exercised 

 than in voyaging over that unexplored portion of the earth nearest to 

 us. If Ministers thought as he did, and if the Fellows of the Royal 

 Society thought as he did, a public subscription should be initiated, and 

 then the Government would be able to see what support they could ask 

 Parliament to vote. At present Parliament was in recess, and any 

 promise the Government could give would be subject to the leservation 

 that Parliament would have to sanction it. He promised to submit 

 their views to the Government, and thanked them for having taken the 

 matter up. 



Dr. Agnew thanked the Premier for his reception of the deputation, 

 and the tenor of his reply. 



JUNE, 1887. 



The monthly meeting of the Royal Society was held on June 14, 

 the President, Sir Robert Hamilton, occupying the chair, and about 

 30 Fellows and several ladies being present. His Excellency was 

 accompanied by Miss Hamilton, Miss Hervey, and Mr. H. W. B. 

 Robinson, the Private Secretary. 



NEW MEMBERS. 



Messrs. N. E. Lewis, M.A., B.C.L., and Samuel Clemes, proposed as 

 members of the society were balloted for, and declared elected. 



ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRAEY. 



The secretary read the following list of additions^made to the library 

 during the month of May : — 



Analele Institutulum Meteorological Romaniei. Tom. 1, 1885. — From 

 the Institution. 



Annals and Magazines of Natural History, 5th ser. No. 112. 



BoUettino della Societa Geographica Italiana. Fasc. 3, 1887. — From 

 the Society. 



Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard College, 

 February, 1887. — From Professor A. Agassiz. 



Bulletin de la Soci^t^ Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscow, 1886. — 

 From the Society. 



Chemist and Druggist of Australasia, June, 1887. — From the Editor. 



Die Seen der Dutschen Alpen line Goographische Monographic. Von 

 Dr. Alois Geistbeck. 



Acht Tafelu, Mit 128 Figuren, Geologischen und Geographisehen. 



Profilen Tiefenschichtenkarten und Dia grammen, Leipzic, 1885. — 

 From the Society. 



Draft of Prospectus of Selden Society. — From the Society. 



Geological Magazine, April, 1887. 



