^opal (Sofietg of Victoria. 



ANNIVEESAEY ADDEESS 



OF 



Mr. R L. J. Ellery, F.R.A.S., Government Astronomer. 



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

 Conversazione, held on Thursday, 10th August, 1876.) 



Your Excellency and Gentlemen of the 

 Royal Society, 



The 12th Rule of our Society, relating to the time at 

 which the Presidential Address shall be delivered, has of 

 late years been more honoured in the breach than in the 

 observance ; every year it has got a little later — this year 

 later than ever, and the usual phrase — "We meet to 

 inaugurate our session," has become inappropriate. I 

 must confess, however, that this bad habit has come into 

 fashion since I have had the honour of being your President ; 

 the remedy, therefore, is obvious. We meet this evening to 

 commemorate the entry of the Society into its 19th session 

 by a social gathering of our members and their friends,, as 

 has been our custom for several years past, and the only 

 really fonnal business of the evening provided for by our 

 rules — the delivery of address — now devolves on me as your 

 President. 



In doing this I wish to be as brief as possible. Since I 

 had last the honour of addressing you, about two years ago, 



