356 J. H. MAIDEN. 
above have the historical value of contemporaries; and my 
own, a brief modern sketch, 1912. 
In addition we have the admirable historical sketch and 
statement of the work and objects of the Society which 
appeared in “‘ Nature,’’ on 23rd June, 1910, over the signa- 
ture of Professor Liversidge. 
The relations of our Society to the 1821 Society. 
It will be presently seen that the authorities for the 
various statements contained in the notice go back fora 
considerable period. 
The minutes of the Philosophical Society of New South 
Wales for 17th December, 1862, referring to the foundation 
of the Philosophical Society of Australasia in 1821, speak 
of ‘‘the formation and early history of the Society”’ (i.e. of 
the Philosophical Society of New South Wales), it being 
implied that the 1821 Society was the precursor. 
Mr. Clarke (loc. cit., p. 8) said, in 1867, ‘“Our own Society 
has had its changes also. At first, in the year 1821, it 
commenced as the ‘Philosophical Society of Australia” 
(should be Australasia.—J.H.M.), a very lofty title for its. 
dozen founders and members.’”’ It will thus be seen that 
Mr. Clarke accepted the view that ‘‘our’’ Society “‘com- 
menced’’ as the 1821 Society. He knew some of the mem- 
bers of it personally. 
In our Journal (Vol. xv for 1881, p. 2) the late Professor 
Smith said :—‘‘It would not be unfair, indeed, to claim an 
existence of sixty years, for undoubtedly the first beginning 
of this scientific organisation is to be traced back to 1821... 
It is mentioned among the Institutions of Sydney in the 
Australasian Almanac for 1825, but not afterwards...” 
It seems to me that while the 1821 Society had the same 
objects as our own, and was indeed its forerunner and 
exemplar, it is not historically correct to suggest lineal 
