6 Opening Address. 



and magnetism, and but little or no attempt had been made to 

 reduce them to a science ; indeed there was not sufficient data 

 for the purpose. But in that year the Society prevailed upon 

 the British Government to fit out expeditions, and establish mag- 

 netical and meteorological observatories in all parts of the world. 

 And the valuable results obtained were well worth the enormous 

 expense incurred. So important do I consider those sciences to 

 be, that they occupy a very considerable portion of the means 

 and very limited force of the Sydney Observatory. And here, an 

 extract from the leading article of the Sydney Morning Herald, of 

 Monday last, is not inappropriate. The writer, speaking of 

 meteorology, says : — " The study is a very fascinating one — we 

 might almost say, a fashionable one — and many efforts have been 

 put forth to make it popular by explaining its scientific complexi- 

 ties. Among the minds devoted to its study, some are more 

 patient in the observation of facts, some more eager in the for- 

 mation of hypotheses." 



To the Eoyal Society may be traced the rise and progress of 

 that most wonderful discovery, the Electric Telegraph. This 

 evening there will be an opportunity of witnessing some most 

 important experiments made with apparatus of the most beautiful 

 and novel description, which have recently been received from 

 England by the Superintendent of Telegraphs. 



Time would fail to tell of the amount of good which has been 

 effected, directly or indirectly, by the Eoyal Society of London. 

 Erom it emanated the British Association for the Advancement 

 of Science — an association which for a long time met with the 

 most hitter opposition from a portion of the London Press, in- 

 cluding the Times, but has produced no inconsiderable influence 

 upon the welfare of mankind. 



In tracing the progress and history of the Eoyal Society of 

 England, my object has been to establish the position that such a 

 society is calculated to be productive of great general benefit to 

 mankind. And if so in the old country, will it not be so in a 

 young one ? England, the land we all call Home, has obtained 

 her exalted position amongst nations in a great measure through 

 the perfection she has attained in the arts and sciences. Macaulay, 

 who foresees the New Zealander standing on the ruins of London 

 Bridge, may tell us, indeed, that when a nation arrives at the 



