10 Inaugural Address. 



obviate in part a difficulty of this kind by allowing Abstracts to 

 be inserted, when a memoir is too long or of too impracticable a 

 character. But in such a case the author should be permitted to 

 draw up his own Abstract, which would prevent distortion of his 

 views and opinions. 



The first volume of our Transactions, published last year, was, 

 in consequence of the cost of printing, deprived of illustrations 

 which were actually required. The funds of the Society did not 

 admit of them. A change of Title will not prevent even the 

 dissolution of any Society which is indifferent to the condition 

 of its exchequer. 



If, therefore, we desire to make progress, we must endeavour 

 to adjust the means of progression. 



Dry as this discussion may be considered, it will, I hope be not 

 found unprofitable. "We must look, Gentlemen, to the conse- 

 quences of our own acts. 



The publication of our Transactions involves further consider- 

 ations of a financial character. "We profess to exchange our 

 publications with those of other Societies, and we engage also to 

 admit ad eundem gradum, or by honorary election, members of 

 such Societies into our own ranks. 



This is desirable on many accounts, and it is to be hoped the 

 University will ere long act on the same principle. 



But we cannot carry out this arrangement properly whilst we 

 dwell in nuhibus. We require provision for a " local habitation," 

 as well as a " name." As at present constituted, Ave have no 

 quarters of our own. Men who aspire to have an influence on 

 Society ought not to be like Tartars or Gipsies, without a fixed 

 habitation. "We have not even a moveable tabernacle of our own. 

 "We assemble in rooms hired for the occasion. Now, if one of 

 those eminent strangers from other lands, with whom we are 

 anxious to be in social communication, come to this city — if he 

 seek the house of the Society, or its Library, or, what it ought to 

 have, its Museum — whither is he to be directed ? If other 

 Societies send us their publications in exchange, where are they 

 to be found by our own Members ? There are many books and 

 memoirs at this moment belonging to us — where are they ? Some 

 are, I belie\*e, in the charge of our Associate the Curator of the 

 Australian Museum, but there are no regulations (such as apply 



