Inaugural Address. 19 



years, and on various other occasions, I consider myself properly 

 restrained from entering on criticism. 



Some of our papers have found a place in the Volume of Trans- 

 actions, edited by our late Secretary, "W. J. Stephens, Esq., who, 

 in making his selecton did his best, finding it impossible from 

 want of sufficient means to do more, and this has consumed three- 

 fourths of the fund accumulated in former years. 



The volume wants an Introduction and Index, and also what 

 would have been useful, such a brief account of the Monthly and 

 Co mm ittee meetings as would keep the members acquainted with 

 the Secretary's and the Council's proceedings. Many useful and 

 interesting facts, not of sufficient importance for a separate 

 memoir, would be thus recorded. On the whole, it must be ad- 

 mitted that this volume proves the Society to be in working order. 

 Of the twenty-six papers selected, half, at least, are dedicated to 

 subjects expressly leading to develop " the resources of Australia 

 and to illustrate its Natural History and productions," the very 

 condition inserted in the fundamental rules of the Royal Society. 



It would occupy too much time to-night to digress from these 

 business-like details to a notice of the progress of Art, Science, 

 and Literature beyond our own limits, otherwise I would have 

 desired to make mention of the many public Engineering works 

 which have been advanced during the last year ; — the progress 

 of the Entomological Society, which though standing aloof from 

 combination with ourselves is doing very good work within the 

 range of our pursuits ; the exertions of the Acclimatisation 

 Society ; and the various Scientific matters brought under public 

 notice by the N. S. ~W. Commissioners of the Intercolonial and 

 International Exhibitions of 1867. 



If time will not permit of such a disgression, much less can I 

 glance even at the various interesting topics with which the 

 Scientific Journals of the other hemisphere abound, and in which 

 some of our active members would find more engaging subjects 

 than those on which I have been compelled to enter this evening. 



Before I conclude it will be proper to revert to them once 

 more. Recalling, then, the facts which belong to the history of 

 this Society — (creditable as they are to it) — it is but rational to 

 ask, Why is the Society not in a more prosperous condition ? 

 "Why, if it is as useful as it has been represented to be, is it now 

 so feeble in its vitality ? 



