§UgaI §0cictg of Victoria. 



A^TNIVEESAET ADDRESS 



OF 



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Mr. K. L. J. Elleky, F.RS., F.K.A.S., Government 

 Astronomer. 



(Delivered to the Members of the Royal Society of Victoria, at their 

 Annual Conversazione, held September 1st, 1879,) 



Gentlemen of the Kotal Society, 



We meet to-night to commemorate the entrance of our 

 Society into its twenty-second session, and once again there 

 devolves upon me the pleasant task of addressing you upon 

 the past year's history and present affairs of the Society, as 

 well as upon the more interesting points in connection with 

 the progress of science in the world generally since last we 

 met together on a similar occasion to the present. 



The ordinary meetings of the Society have all been fully 

 occupied with scientific papers, accounts of original experi- 

 ments or discoveries, exhibits of new or improved scientific 

 instruments, and the discussions emanating from them. Our 

 transactions will show how far your Society has fulfilled its 

 mission and trust during the past twelve months, and 

 although we cannot congratulate ourselves on any unusual 

 vigour or progress, I think we may justly look back with 

 satisfaction on the past year's work. 



The plan of printing and distributing original contributions 

 immediately after they have been read or received at the 

 ordinary meetings has been found a good one, and I believe 

 has imparted fresh vigour to our proceedings. 



