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ANNIVERSAKY ADDRESS 



OF 



Mr. R L. J. Ellery, F.RA.S. (Government Astronomer.) 



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

 Conversazione, held on 27th August, 1874.) 



Your Excellency, and Gentlemen of the 

 Royal Society, 



We meet to-night to commemorate the entrance of this 

 Society into its seventeenth session, and, in accordance 

 with our usual custom, I propose to address you briefly 

 on the history of the Society during the interval that has 

 elapsed since we last met here on a similar occasion in 

 August, last year. Although I am extremely happy to state 

 that I have to report no gaps in our ranks from death 

 during the past year, it is nevertheless my painful duty to 

 refer to the recent loss of a gentleman who, though not 

 a member of our Society, was most honourably associated 

 with it in the Eclipse Expedition. I refer to the late 

 Commander Gowlland, R.N., who was recently drowned in 

 the Sydney Harbour whilst performing his duties there as 

 Admiralty Marine Surveyor. Commander Gowlland, most 

 of you will remember, gave his services, and commanded 

 the Eclipse Expedition Steamer Governor Blackall, and also 

 formed one of the Sydney observing party. The expedition 



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