14 Opening Address. 



appointed to make preliminary inquiries ; and I have to request that you will 

 have the goodness to make the proposal known, and to inform me how many 

 gentlemen from Sydney are likely to join it. 



I have the honor to be, Sir, 



Tour most obedient Servant, 



RoBT. L. J. Elleey, 

 President of the Royal Society of Victoria. 

 The President of the RoyarSooiety, Sydney. 



Mr. B-ussell informs me that this eclipse will be total on the 

 east side of Cape York, latitude 13"3 S., at 2 o'clock in the after- 

 noon, and will last three minutes twenty seconds. The time 

 required for the voyage, and the expense, will, I fear, deter many 

 who would desire to witness this rare phenomenon ; and in a 

 scientific point of view, it seems to me that late eclipses have been 

 so thoroughly investigated by telescopes, spectroscopes, and pho- 

 tography, that what remains to be done would require such 

 delicate instruments, and such experienced manipulators, as to be 

 beyond the reach of colonial appliances. Still it would be very 

 desirable that a party should be on the spot, equipped as eflS.- 

 ciently as possible ; and it might not be too much to ask the 

 various Australian Governments to bear a portion of the expense. 

 The Home Grovernment might have been applied to for the use of 

 one of Her Majesty's ships to convey the party to and from Cape 

 York without charge ; but if this has not been already done, it is 

 now probably too late. If any gentleman would desii-e to join the 

 expedition, as suggested by Mr. EUery, he will please communi- 

 cate with the Secretary. 



It now only remains for me to express my regret that, owing 

 to my approaching departure on a visit to America and Europe, 

 it will not be in my power to attend any more meetiugs of the 

 Society this year. I trust you will have a pleasant and profitable 

 session, and that members will not only countenance the meet- 

 ings, but bestir themselves to provide suitable business. 



