HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 2G 
10. Philosophical Society of New South Wales (30th July, 
1855 —12th December, 1866). 
11. Royal Society of New South Wales (12th December, 
1866 —). 
Floreat ! 
1. The Philosophical Society of Australasia, December, 
1821 — 1822 ?). 
Men early began to feel the necessity of a mutual improve- 
ment society, and the subject of agriculture being, (one 
would imagine), non-political, seemed to present itself in 
an obvious manner. Following is the first definite attempt 
I can trace to realize the above object. 
‘‘An attempt at this time (1818) to form an Agricultural 
Society came to an untimely end. (Judge Advocate) Wylde 
hoped by means of balloting for the election of members to 
prevent the necessity of excluding or including ex-convicts 
by any rule. With a ballot he thought some would have 
been elected and others, who were personally undesirable, 
not. But the Governor (Macquarie) refused to be the 
patron of the society unless the emancipists were freely 
admitted; and, lacking his support, the scheme was 
dropped.’’—(Marion Phillips, ‘‘A Colonial Autocracy,”’ 
1909,.p. 270). 
The time for an Agricultural Society was not ripe, nor 
did any Society take its place during the reign of Macquarie. 
It will be presently seen that Governor Brisbane, who was 
a scientific man (an astronomer), established a scientific 
Society or Club, and he lost no time about it. 
The following notes were read at the fifty-sixth meeting 
of the Philosophical Society of New South Wales, 17th 
December, 1862 (extracted from the Minutes). 
“The following extract from the ‘‘Australian Almanac 
for 1822,” gives an account of the formation and early 
