Inaugural Address. 17 



On 11th January, 1851, Sir T. L. Mitchell read his paper on 

 the " Bomerang propeller"; and on 23rd May, another "On 

 the connection between Science and Art in a new colony" ; which 

 was followed by one " On the application of machinery as a means 

 of saving hand labour," by Mr. Capper. 



There are notices of gold medals offered, to be adjudged in 

 1851, for the production of Madder, growth of Cotton, Metals 

 from Colonial ore, and Sugar. "Whether these medals were ever 

 adjudged, does not appear. 



Nor is it shown what became of the Society, though it is probable 

 its decay, after a period of great activity and intended usefulness, 

 was brought about in the first instance by the excitement of the 

 first rush to the gold-fields. The results of the labours that I 

 undertook in consequence for the Crovernment, do not form part 

 of the work of the Society, but have been recorded elsewhere. 



We come now to the period in which the Philosophical Society 

 was restored in the year 1856 ; and it is but an act of justice to 

 give the then Governor- General, Sir William T. Denison, credit 

 for a very active share in its revival. 



His Excellency became President, and the Hon. Sir Charles 

 Nicholson, and the Hon. E. Deas Thomson, Vice-Presidents. 

 But the first impulse was felt among the members of the Austra- [ 

 Han Society, who met at the Royal Hotel, on 30th July, 1855, • 

 and resolved to remodel the Society under the territorial title of 

 New South "Wales. The members of the Australian Society 

 passed over without re-election, and the former Secretary and 

 Treasurer were retained. The first meeting of the Philosophical 

 Society was held in the Lecture-room of the School of Arts, on 

 Friday, 9th May, 1856. Other meetings were held in this Hall, 

 and in the Sydney Chamber of Commerce at the Exchange. 

 Erom its commencement a minute book has been kept, and the 

 business of the Committee and of the monthly general meetings 

 has been recorded. 



On the 19th December, 1860, the Society presented a Farewell 

 Address to the Governor- General, who on the 15th May, 1861, 

 was succeeded by our present Governor, the Eight Hon. Sir 

 John Young, Bart. 



Erom the commencement of Sir William Denison's presidency 

 c 



