Anniversary Address. 5 



Murchison, the triens of our way to Carpentaria, within a 

 fortnight's distance of this place ; and now we even learn that 

 a steamer has reached a Darling tributary nearly 1,000 miles 

 beyond Mount Murchison. What changes may we not ex- 

 pect when once the iron-horse, as Elihu Burritt significantly 

 termed the locomotive, has forced its way into the interior ? 

 Another of our honorary members, to whom we are indebted 

 for most valuable contributions to our Transactions, will, I feel 

 sure, not cease to throw a flood of information on everything 

 new within his reach. The more I have had an opportunity of 

 appreciating Mr. Gregory's varied acquirements, the sound- 

 ness of his judgment, and the acuteness of his intellect, the 

 more do I regret that Australian geography has lost, at pre- 

 sent, the services of one of her most skilful pioneers. Still, 

 Ave have reason to expect that, in taking up his abode in an 

 almost unknown country, the western frontiers of East Aus- 

 tralia, he will yet at times engage in those pursuits which Ave 

 have learnt to estimate. And then, again, there is before 

 us the zeal displayed by Mr. Edward Wilson, in rendering 

 available for our use those bounties in which the animated 

 nature of other regions of the world excel. Our patriotic 

 friend's exertions bear the stamp of a most genuine philan- 

 thropy ; and, whilst he has earned for his disinterested pro- 

 jects universal acclamation, they are still more entitled to 

 our acknowledgment, as having in part originated Avithin this 

 Institute. Let us bear in remembrance, also, that the early 

 progress of this society is greatly owing to the interest de- 

 A r oted to it by one of our absent friends, our first President, 

 Captain Clarke, Avhose wishes for our welfare never yet 

 abated, and are now manifest abroad. Nor be that sym- 

 pathy withheld which by Blandowski, as a founder and most 

 active member, is but justly claimed. Having spent 

 almost ten years of toil in advancing our insight into the 

 singularities of nature Avhich here surround us, he left our 



