14 Anniversary Address. 



race lias always displayed ; for you will remember that it was 

 to observe tlie transit of Venus over the Sun that Captain 

 Cook was despatched on his first voyage to the Southern 

 Ocean^ and but for his subsequent exploration of the east 

 coast of Australia, this continent might never have been 

 colonised by the British nation. 



It seems but right, then, that this, the wealthiest and most 

 civilised of the communities which have hence sprung into 

 existence, should make some eifort to advance the cause to 

 which it owes its origin. Nor will that effort, I am per- 

 suaded, prove fruitless. We can gain, it is true, no extension 

 of territory by the discoveries we may make, yet no incon- 

 siderable commercial advantages must ultimately accrue to 

 the possessors of the only great haven on the south coast, 

 from the progress of internal settlement, and from opening 

 up a practicable route to the northern shores of this vast con- 

 tinent ; whilst a clearer insight into the nature and extent of 

 the central desert cannot fail to elucidate phenomena now 

 not easily explicable, and to complete our stores of informa- 

 tion as to the Meteorology and Mineralogy, the Fauna and 

 the Flora, of this most exceptional and extraordinary portion 

 of the globe. 



To this Society belongs the honor of first directing atten- 

 tion to the importance of such an expedition ; it has subse- 

 quently — stimulated by the munificence of the anonymous 

 donor of .£1,000 — raised a sum of nearly .€3,000 towards 

 this object, and has by its representations induced successive 

 administrations to obtain from Parliament funds for the pur- 

 chase of camels, as well as a further liberal grant of £©6,000 

 to supplement the private subscription. 



The Society must, therefore, feel the deepest anxiety for 

 the successful issue of an undertaking to which it thus stands 

 committed, and the Government has, in my opinion, acted 

 wisely in resolving to leave its guidance and control to the 



