for the year 1885. xiii 



ways. Its published Transactions are most voluminous, 

 and are to be found in every library of scientific pretensions. 

 Through evil report and good report; hissed at by the 

 vulgar, who, in their ignorance, thought they had been 

 robbed of eleven days out of their lifetime ; ridiculed by wits 

 and satirists, who were unable to grasp the importance of 

 real knowledge, and to whom exhaustive experimental 

 investigation looked like childish trifling — the Royal Society 

 held on its way ; and now in its maturity, and with all its 

 glorious history behind it, stands one of the grandest and 

 most beneficent organisations the world has ever seen. 



The Royal Society recognises no authority but that which 

 submits to the most crucial test. It does not accept the 

 law of Gravitation because Newton enunciated it, or the 

 circulation of the blood because Harvey described its course, 

 but it places Newton and Harvey in the highest seat of 

 honour, because the facts they first pointed out have been 

 verified by every succeeding investigation. Its methods are 

 accurate observation, conscientious experimenting, logical 

 deduction. Its aim is not the advocacy of a theory, the 

 bolstering up of a case, but the discovery of absolute truth. 



In humble imitation of this magnificent association, local 

 societies such as our own have been formed in many 

 countries, and have enjoyed in various degrees the public 

 favour and the support of Government. These are known 

 as the Royal Societies of Victoria, New South Wales, South 

 Australia, or otherwise, as the case may be. They recognise 

 the same duty, adopt the same methods, and keep in view 

 the same objects as the parent Society. To discover and 

 record that which is true, to widen the bounds of human 

 knowledge, to expose error, to assist the bond fide 

 investigator, this constitutes their legitimate work. 



But why, some one not specially interested in scientific 

 pursuits may ask, all this enthusiasm about truth ? Do we 

 not all seek truth ? and is not truth easily attainable in most 

 matters of practical moment ? We are intelligent men; we 

 do not believe in witchcraft and astrology; we belong to 



A 



