Proceedings, fyc. vii 



20th April, 1859. 



Ordinary Meeting. 



Dr. Ferdinand Mueller, President, in the chair. 



The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. 



The Secretary read the names of eight candidates for ordinary 

 membership, to be balloted for at the ensuing meeting. 



W. H. Ackhurst, Esq., was duly elected an ordinary member of 

 the Institute — Drs. Wilkie and Iffla officiating as scrutineers. 



The following two gentlemen were duly and unanimously elected 

 honorary members of the Institute. 



Professor Von Haidinger, K.M.T., &c, &c, Director- General of the 

 Geological Survey of Austria. Proposed by the President, and 

 seconded by Professor Wilson. 



Professor John Smith, M.D., Professor of Chemistry in the Uni- 

 versity of Sydney. Proposed by Professor Wilson, and seconded by 

 Dr. Macadam. 



The Secretary gave notice of his intention to move certain altera- 

 tions in Rules V. and XXV., at a special general meeting to be called 

 at an early date, for the consideration of the same. 



The President then called upon the Secretary to read to the mem- 

 bers a letter on the subject of "Australian Exploration," of date 

 the 31st December, 1858, from A. C. Gregory, Esq. This was a 

 private letter, addressed to Dr. Mueller, but, on account of the im- 

 portance of the subject, he (Dr. Mueller) had pleasure in handing it 

 over to the Institute. The President further stated that the Council 

 had arranged that the present meeting should be specially devoted to 

 the consideration of the present position of the Institute with regard 

 to the exploration of the interior of the Australian Continent, and also 

 that steps should be taken to aid the " Exploration Committee" in 

 obtaining the remainder of the sum necessary to secure the liberal 

 donation of £1 000, conditionally given by a citizen of Melbourne. 



The Secretary then read the letter referred to, which was to the 

 following effect : — 



"Sydney, 31st December, 1858. 



"Dear Sir, 



"As it appears that your province of Victoria is determined 

 to attempt the exploration of the interior, I have thought it desir- 

 able to give you a brief outline of my views on the subject. 



"Assuming that the object is the exploration of the unknown por- 

 tion of the interior, by penetrating into it as far as practicable, we 

 must first look for the best line by which to pass the country already 

 known, and this still appears to me to be by of way Sturt's Creek 

 and the Victoria River, on the North West coast. But there are 

 many circumstances which render it injudicious to make the attempt 



