Proceedings, &c. xxxix 



"for the direct advantages they confer, but from a deep conviction 

 " that, without intellectual culture, the human mind becomes stagnant 

 " and corrupt. I readily, therefore, accepted the Presidency of the 

 " Royal Society, though conscious of my unfitness in many respects 

 " for so honourable and distinguished a post ; and it is gratifying to 

 " me now to learn that I have discharged its functions to your 

 " satisfaction. I rejoice especially at the great progress which has 

 " been made during my tenure of office in the Exploration of the 

 u Continent of Australia, principally under the auspices of a com- 

 " mittee of the Members of the Society, for whose indefatigable 

 " exertions, I believe the gratitude of their fellow-colonists to be most 

 " justly due. 



" It would have been satisfactory to me when resigning the 

 " Presidency, to be able to reflect that I had left the Society in a 

 " more flourishing condition than is in some respects the case ; but I 

 " am firmly persuaded, nevertheless, of the inherent vitality of its 

 " organisation. I know that there are among the most competent 

 " and distinguished of its members those who will not suffer it 

 " further to decline, and I feel confident, moreover, that the Legis- 

 " lature will not, if applied to, withhold the trifling sum requisite 

 " for the maintenance of an institution which has spread the name 

 " and fame of the Colony in many foreign lands, but will, by assisting 

 " in the publication of its Transactions, enable it once more to reci- 

 " procate with other learned bodies throughout the world." 



His Excellency bade the Society farewell, and expressed his best 

 wishes for its future prosperity and welfare. 



(Signed) John Macadam, M.D., Vice-President. 



21st September, 1863. 



Okdinaky Meeting. 



Hon. John Macadam, M.D., &c, Vice-President, in the chair. 



The gentleman nominated at the last Meeting for Ordinary 

 Membership was balloted for, and declared duly elected. 



The following contributions were laid on the table : — " Proceed- 

 ings of the Royal Society of London," No. 5/>, Vol. XII. — presented 

 by the Society. " Large Map of Australia, showing the Routes 

 of all the Explorers " — presented by the compiler, Mr. F. Proeschel. 

 " The Anthropological Review," No. 1 — presented by the Society. 

 " Schriften der Koenigl phys. oekonom Gesellschaft zu Koenigs- 

 berg, 3 Jahrgang," 1862 — presented by the Society. " Fragmenta 

 Phytographise Australiee," No 24 — presented by the author. 

 " Kometbanernes indbyrdes Beliggenhed ;" " om Cirklersberoring ;" 

 " om Siphonodentalium vitreum, liber die Geometrische Reprasen- 

 ation der Gleichungen zwischen zwei veranderlichen, reellen oder 



