PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. 19 
necessary, although of course it is highly desirable and very 
advantageous. Most of the advances and discoveries made in 
microscopy have been made by what may be termed amateurs. 
Even the preparation of lists of microscopic forms of “moulds,” 
fungi, diatoms, desmids, &c., would be useful, and I would strongly 
urge every member who possesses a microscope to commence original 
work of some kind. He will be pleased and astonished to see how 
valuable facts will rapidly grow and accumulate under his hands. 
I would also venture to suggest that such of the papers read 
before the Medical Section as are suitable should be published in 
the Society’s volume. The others, if necessary, and thought desir- 
able by the Section, might be printed separately and forwarded 
- only to the members of the Medical Section. 
One of the few facilities for scientific work which we possessed 
here and in which the Society assisted in founding, viz., the 
Biological Laboratory at Watson’s Bay, has been closed. I regret 
to say that the Government has resumed the house and grounds 
for defence purposes. Up to the present the laboratory has not 
been so much used as was hoped and expected ; this was probably 
due to its comparatively inaccessibility, and to its lack of fittings 
and appliances, especially for marine biology,—M. de M. Maclay, 
to whose exertions the formation of the laboratory was mainly 
due, having been, so far, the only worker who has made use of it. 
The Government will doubtless refund the trustees the cost of the 
building, and with that as a nucleus we may be able to start 
afresh. It would be a great pity to allow such an undertaking 
to drop here, especially as there is such an unlimited field for 
marine biological work before us in Australia. 
In the course of years it is to be hoped that this scarcity of 
scientific workers in the Colony will gradually disappear with the 
_ spread of general and liberal education. By a liberal education I 
mean something more than ordinary course in Arts. 
After a lapse of some thirty odd years from its foundation, the 
University had at last been able, by the greater liberality of Parlia- 
ment, and by the receipt of private endowments, to make better 
