350 J. H. MAIDEN. 
The first monthly meeting of our Society as at present 
named, took place on the 9th July, 1867, and the meeting 
at which the present historical account is read, is the three 
hundred and ninety-eighth, the date being 3rd July, 1918. 
Vice-Regal Associations. 
The Philosophical Society of New South Wales asked 
(1856) the Governor-General (as the Governor was then 
styled) to accept the office of President, following the 1850 
precedent, but there was norule to that effect. The Royal 
‘Society of New South Wales had a rule (1866) conferring 
the Presidency on the Governor, and this continued till 
1880. From 1881 to 1900 the Governor was styled Honorary 
President. In 1901 (Federation year) this office was 
dropped, and we had no office-bearer of Vice-regal rank. 
During that year the Governor-General accepted the office 
of Patron, and the Governor the office of Vice-Patron, and 
that arrangement continues. 
In the days of the Philosophical Society of New South 
Wales the Governor (General) gave an inaugural address, 
usually brief. Coming to the Royal Society of New South 
Wales, His Excellency was supported by two Vice-Presi- 
dents, and the senior one made the “‘Inaugural Address,”’’ 
which began with that of the Rev. W. B. Clarke on 9th 
July, 1867, at the first meeting of our Royal Society, (Trans. 
Roy. Soc., 1). 
In 1868, Vice-President Smalley gave an ‘“‘Opening ”’ 
Address, and so did Professor Smith in 1878, but the Rev. 
W. B. Clarke in 1869 began the present designation of an 
*‘Anniversary’’ Address, which he repeated in 1870, 1872 
and 1873 (no address was given in 1874), 1875 and 1876. It 
is no disparagement of the early addresses to say that 
those of Mr. Clarke were most numerous and most scien- 
tifically valuable. The remaining Vice-Presidents who 
delivered addresses (and whom now-a-days we would call 
ed 
