621 



name appears as a corresponding member, with a Melbourne 

 address. As a matter of fact, he entered the Victorian Public 

 Service as a clerk in January, 1854, and subsequently filled 

 various positions in the Census, Police, and Mines Depart- 

 ments. While still in Melbourne, he contributed a paper 

 to the Society in September, 1863. He retired from the 

 Victorian Service on a pension in 1877, and died at his resi- 

 dence, South Yarra, after a long illness, on March 16, 1880. 



Three preliminary meetings were held at St-ephens Place, 

 and at these rules were drawn up for the government of the 

 Society, and the annual subscription fixed at a guinea. 

 Visitors were to be admitted tO' the meetings on introduction 

 by a member, and they were allowed to take part in the dis- 

 cussions, a privilege not infrequently exercised. It was 

 decided that the election of members was to be by ballot, one 

 negative vote excluding. It is worthy of note, that one can- 

 didate was so excluded, during the first few months of the 

 Society's existence. 



In addition to such routine business, the roll of member- 

 ship was greatly increased, and it is safe to say that the 

 young Society already included within its ranks the best 

 literary and scientific talent to be found in the city. Some of 

 its members were men of undoubted ability and marked 

 originality of character. A list of foundation members will 

 be found in the Appendix, but it may not be out of pla^e 

 to refer more particularly to a few of them. 



Edward Davy, a versatile doctor, had a most extra- 

 ordinary career. Wliile still in England, he had already 

 been recognized as a formidable rival to such men as Cooke 

 and Wheatstone, in the new field of telegraphy. Not only 

 was he an inventive genius in this science, but in many 

 other branches as well. Quite^ suddenly, when his discoveries 

 seemed likely to lead to wealth and eminence, he appeared to 

 lose interest, and sailed for Australia as surgeon to an 

 emigrant ship. Reaching the new colony in 1839, he aban- 

 doned his profession and engaged in pastoral pursuits. Then 

 followed a career of journalism, and for about three years he 

 was editor of The Adelaide Eocamlner. Later still he became 

 manager of the Yatala Copper Smelting Works. He retained 

 this position for a few years, and then relinquished it in 

 favour of the control of the Government Assay Office, where 

 for the first time in Australia gold tokens were coined. Owing 

 to his success in this department, he was lured to a similar 

 appointment in Melbourne at a salary of £1,500 per annum. 

 Owing, however, to necessary retrenchments, his new appoint- 

 ment was of short duration, and in eighteen months he was 

 once more a farmer, this time coupled with the practice of 



