Anniversary Address. 3 



consider by the light of past experience how its operations 

 may in future be most beneficially conducted. 



These objects were declared in 1855 (when two infant pro- 

 jects of a similar nature were amalgamated into the present 

 Society), '"to embrace the whole field of science, with special 

 reference to the development of the natural resources of the 

 country/' the mode of cfl'cetiug them having at the same 

 time been defined to be ''hj original researches conducted 

 by members, and original papers read and discussed at 

 meetings/' 



I find that in accordance v/ith the latter intention, not far 

 short of one hundred Papers on points connected Avith Zoology, 

 Botany, Geology, Astronomy, Meteorology, Engineering,, 

 and other branches of science both exact and inexact, have 

 been, during the five years of its existence, read and dis- 

 cussed; and when I mention, not invidiously but for the 

 sake of illustration, the names of Professors Wilson, McCoy, 

 Hcarn, and Neumayer ; of Doctors Miieller and Becker ; of 

 Messrs. Selwyn and Brongh Smyth, as among the contribu- 

 tors, I need hardly add that much has been thereby done for 

 the advancement of scientific truth. 



I would not ignore the fact that the Society has been 

 occasionally criticised by the local press for the trivial nature 

 of some of the topics brought forward, no less than for the 

 asperity which has at times characterised its discussions. 

 Such criticism need occasion little concern. If avcU founded, 

 it can scarcely fail to lead to improvement. If unfair, it will 

 in the long run fall harmless. 



I am old enough to remember the attacks of the Times on 

 the early proceedings of the British Association for the Ad- 

 vancement of Science ; but witty and vivacious as were its 

 sallies, they aided probably rather than retarded the subse- 

 quent triumphs of that noljle scientific Congress. 



