xxxviii Presidents Address 



Who that has watched the career of His Royal Highness 

 in' matters of science — who that remembers the eloquent 

 and comprehensive discourse which, in his presidential 

 capacity, he delivered at Aberdeen two years ago — can 

 doubt that Prince Albert was a zealous student as well as an 

 enthusiastic admirer of nature ; one who, if bom in a less 

 exalted social sphere, might have achieved that pre- 

 eminence in physical investigations for which the speculative 

 yet exact character of the German mind qualifies so many of 

 his countrymen. . 



Having struck so mournful a chord at starting, I am led 

 to a loss nearer home — to a vacancy in our own ranks, 

 humbler far, yet not the less acutely perceptible within our 

 limited circle. I am aware that the anniversary addresses 

 from this chair have not hitherto been prefaced by the 

 necrology of deceased members, so customary on similar 

 occasions in the learned societies of Europe. Our origin is 

 too recent, our numbers too small, the scientific reputation 

 of the greater part of our members too inconsiderable, to 

 render such a practice expedient ; but you will bear with 

 me, I know, while making an exception in favour of one of 

 our earliest and most indefatigable contributors, Dr. Ludwig 

 Becker — the more especially as he fell a victim to the cause 

 of scientific exploration, which this Society has ever had so 

 much at heart. 



It was not his, indeed, to take part, as he so ardently 

 desired, in the great exploit which has covered our land with 

 so much grief and so much glory, the first crossing of the 

 Australian Continent from sea to sea. Like many another 

 brave man, he was fated but to form one of the baggage- 

 guard whilst the victory was being won. But whenever -the 

 history of the Burke and Wills Expedition is written, the 

 name of Ludwig Becker will, like theirs, rank with those of 

 Cunningham, Kennedy, Leichhardt, and the rest of that noble 



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