PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. 5 
Dr. Smith was one of the oldest members of our Society, he 
having joined it as far back as 1852, when it was known as the 
Australian Philosophical Society. 
At a meeting presided over by Sir William Denison, the then 
Governor-General, held on May 9th, 1856, the Australian Phi- 
losophical Society was remodelled, and renamed the Philosophical 
Society of New South Wales, when Dr. Smith was appointed one 
of the Honorary Secretaries in recognition of the active part he 
had taken in bringing about the changes ; he retained this position 
until 1860, and the earlier records in the minute books are in his 
handwriting. | 
He was a member of the Council for nine out of the eleven 
years during which the Society was known as the Philosophical 
Society, and during those years he read the following papers :— 
August 13th, 1856.—“On the action of Sydney Water upon 
Lead.” 
November 16th, 1859.—“ On the Separation of Gold from 
Mundie Quartz.” : 
August 15th, 1860.—“On the Quartz Reefs of Upper 
Adelong.” 
November 11th, 1863.—* On ancient flint Implements found 
near Abbeville.” 
August 17th, 1864.—“On the probable reasons that led 
Fahrenheit to the adoption of his peculiar Thermometric 
Scale.” 
Afterwards, when the constitution was again reformed and the 
name changed to that of the Royal Society, he was retained as a 
member of the Council, which position he has held for eighteen 
years. During this time he filled the office of Vice-President for 
ten years, and he was twice elected to the Presidential Chair. 
Previous to 1879 the Governor for the time being was, ex officio, 
President, so that Dr. Smith, as senior Vice-President, was in 
reality performing the duties of President for several years. 
