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President's Address 



that the appetite for and pursuit of truth is maintained 

 with unabated vigour ; that in each instance the harvest 

 of knowledge duly follows the expense of scientific labour, 

 and that the boundaries of human knowledge are still 

 extending. 



Following the established routine, I will in the first place 

 speak, to the best of my ability, concerning the affairs of 

 our Society, commencing with a few observations personal 

 to our President, Mr. Ellery, through whose absence from 

 the colony the task of addressing this assemblage falls 

 upon the present speaker. 



Six months since it became obvious that the onerous 

 duties belonging to Mr. Ellery's position as Director of the 

 Melbourne Observatory, overweighted by collateral and 

 extrinsic labours, which latter, to the full extent of his 

 physical powers, he was at all times remarkably ready to 

 undertake, had at length produced some of the signs of 

 overwork. The inroad upon his general health had 

 rendered relaxation and change urgently necessary, and, 

 in consequence, the Government have allowed him a year's 

 leave of absence, under conditions which it is trusted will 

 enable him to return to us at the close of his holiday 

 rejuvenescent and mentally refreshed, fortified moreover 

 by new experiences, and intercourse with some of the 

 foremost of the European workers. It should be remembered 

 that although the Royal Society has no necessarily 

 permanent President, — the election for that office, as for 

 all others, taking place annually — yet Mr. Ellery has so 

 closely identified himself with our work, has taken so 

 watchful an interest in the welfare of the Society, and, 

 in a spirit of self-sacrifice, has been ever so ready to 

 accept the onus of office, that for several years past, the 

 Society has with cheerful readiness re-elected him to the 

 Presidential chair ; and on his departure it was felt that 



