114 President's Address 



duties pertaining to the various offices he held, and much 

 increased by an accident, causing fracture of the ribs, he 

 met with on his return from New Zealand, a short time 

 previously. 



Dr. Macadam was born at Northbank, near Glasgow, in 

 May, 1827. He first studied under Professor Penny, at 

 Glasgow, to whom he was afterwards appointed principal 

 assistant. He subsequently entered at the Edinburgh 

 University, under Professor Gregory. He arrived in this 

 colony in 1855, under an engagement as Lecturer on 

 Chemistry and Natural Science in the Scotch College, 

 Melbourne. Dr. Macadam was one of our earliest members 

 of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria, afterwards the 

 Royal Society. He held the office of Honorary Secretary 

 for many years, and on him devolved the task of editing the 

 " Transactions," all of which, except the last issued, were 

 published under his superintendence. He was also a Fellow 

 of the Royal Scottish Society of Arts, and a Fellow of the 

 Faculty of Phj^sicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Of late 

 years he held the appointment of Lecturer on Theoretical 

 and Practical Chemistry, at the Melbourne University, 

 which he retained till the time of his death. 



Although your last session was not a very busy one, 

 several interesting and valuable papers were read, giving 

 rise in many instances to animated and instructive discus- 

 sions. 



Numerous and valuable additions were made to j^our 

 library by kindred societies abroad ; and we are now in 

 regular receipt of the " Transactions " of ninety-five 

 scientific and Literary bodies in Europe and America. 



The resumption of the publication of the " Transactions," 

 which had for several years unfortunately been in abeyance, 

 is a noteworthy fact of your last session. The last volume 

 which was issued to your members contains the Transactions 



