2 Opening Address. 



active member of the Philosophical Society, and was mainly 

 instrumental (in conjunction with Mr. Bedford, our present 

 honorary treasurer,) in getting the name changed to Royal 

 Society. Some of us thought this designation rather too ambi- 

 tious, but I believe all are now satisfied that it is m'ore appropriate 

 than the former designation. A strictly " philosophical " society 

 might be expected to confine its attention to matters of specula- 

 tion and pure science, while in our circumstances it is expedient 

 to devote our energies more to applied science, and to matters of 

 obvious practical utility, not however refusing to entertain 

 questions of speculative philosophy when competent members 

 bring them under our notice. Following the example of the 

 Eoyal Society of England, we can embrace the whole range of 

 human knowledge and skill, avoiding only such topics as usually 

 end in angry controversy. 



While a member of the Philosophical Society, Mr. Smalley 

 read the following papers : — " On the theory of Encke's Comet." 

 " On certain possible relations between Greological changes and 

 Astronomical observations." " On the present state of Astrono- 

 mical, Magnetical, and Meteorological Science, and the practical 

 bearings of these subjects." " Preliminary remarks on the Mag- 

 netical Survey of New South Wales." And in the Eoyal Society 

 he read the following : — " On the Mutual Influence of Clock 

 Pendulums." " On the value of Earth temperatures," and the 

 opening address, session 1S68. Mr. Smalley was elected one of 

 the Vice-Presidents of the Eoyal Society, in conjunction with 

 the Eev. W. B. Clarke, and continued to take a warm interest in 

 the society till his death in July last year. 



Turning now to the progress and work of the Royal Society 

 during the year, I have to notice that we gained twenty-one new 

 members, besides several members of the former Philosophical 

 Society who now recognised us. In the previous year (1869) 

 there were only fourteen new members. But while we thus had 

 a fair addition to our numerical strength, there was no corres- 

 ponding addition, I regret to say, to our income. As a 

 consequence of this we were barely able to make ends meet, and 

 unless we find a material improvement this year, we shall be 

 reluctantly compelled to stop the publication of our transactions. 



