Proceedings. vil 
without practical effect ; and as the resources of the Philosophical So- 
ciety are insufficient for the prosecution of these researches, your Memo- 
rialists are therefore led to beg Your Excellency’s consideration of the 
great and incalculable benefits that might result from such inquiries, 
pursued under the supervision of your Memorialists; and if it should 
appear of similar importance to Your Excellency, your Memorialsts 
would earnestly pray for such support as your Excellency may deem 
- advisable to extend, 
And your Memorialists will ever pray, &c. 
To the Honourable the Legislative Council of the Colony of Victoria 
The Memorial of the Members of the Philosophical Society of Victoria 
in General Meeting assembled, 
Humbly sheweth :— 
That your Memorialists, mindful of the onerous duties which devolve 
upon them as citizens, and as Members of a Scientific Institution, have 
endeavoured to enlist the support of the inhabitants of Victoria in the 
prosecution of inquiries, tending to the discovery of the various natural 
productions which are held to be the chief sources of wealth in all 
countries. 
That your Memorialists have proposed to establish, on a broad basis, 
a system of discovery replete with benefits to the Colony at large, and 
of high and significant importance to the scientific world. 
Your Memorialists propose to send to the interior, or to such districts 
as they shall determine, suitably-qualified persons to examine and report 
upon the mineral as well as other natural resources of such districts, and 
to collect specimens in natural history of a practical value, so that the 
wealth of this country in these departments may become available to 
the inhabitants. 
Your Memorialists have not received as yet that support from the 
public which would warrant them to attempt the realisation of this 
scheme; and therefore your Memorialists would respectfully draw the 
attention of your Honourable House to the consideration of this matter, 
relating as it does to the immediate prosperity of the country. 
That your Petitioners feeling the responsibility which attaches to a 
work of the magnitude here indicated, would beg the support of your 
Honourable House in the furtherance of the object aimed at. 
And your Petitioners will ever pray, &c. 
J. H. Brooke, Esq. moved, and S. Wekey, Esq. seconded; and 
it was agreed,— 
That the memorial to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor 
be presented by a deputation consisting of Captain Clarke, R.E., 
Dr. Hutchinson, and Dr. Iffla. 
Dr. E. Davey read an essay “On the construction of an instrument 
for ascertaining the mean temperature of any place.” 
