HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 351 
Presidents) were H. C. Russell in 1877, O. Rolleston in 
1878, Professor Smith in 1879, and C. Moore in 1880. Pro- 
fessor Smith was the first non Vice-regal office-bearer who 
held the title of President, and that was in 1881, the 
Governor’s title having been changed to Honorary Presi- 
dent, as already explained. 
The Society continued to only have two Vice-Presidents 
until the year 1891, when four were appointed, and this 
arrangement has continued. 
Two Governors, at least, associated themselves very 
earnestly with the work of the Society, and it was the 
ordinary members, and not His Excellency, who first got 
tired of the Society. 
Sir William Denison presided at the following meetings: 
Concluding meeting of the 1850 Society, 30th July, 1855, 
when it was decided to form the Philosophical Society; 
Inaugural meeting of Philosophical Society of New South 
Wales, 9th May, 1856 (giving an address on railroads), and 
five other meetings in that year, three in 1857, six in 1858, 
five in 1859 and four in 1860, his term of office ending with 
the year. He gave several addresses and papers, and 
supported and virtually founded the Microscopical Section. 
Sir John Young presided at the meeting of 17th July, 
1861, for the first time, and at three other meetings in that 
year, five in 1862, three in 1863, two in 1864, and not again 
till September 1867, which was his last appearance. 
The Earl of Belmore presided on 3rd June and 14th July, 
1868. 
Smith (pp. 4—5) gives an amusing account of the dwind- 
ling attendance which even a Vice-regal President was 
unable to stem. | 
Ido not think that a Governor again honoured us at a 
monthly meeting until 6th September, 1916, when His 
Excellency Sir Gerald Strickland attended, but did not 
preside. 
