360 J. H. MAIDEN. 
We are indebted to Mr. EH. L. Piesse for ““The foundation 
and early work of the Society; with some account of earlier 
institutions and Societies in Tasmania,’’ which he presented 
on 13th October, 1913, at a meeting held in celebration of 
the Seventieth Anniversary of the Royal Society of Tas- 
mania (Proc. Roy. Soc. Tas., 1913, p. 117). 
He shows (p. 118) that the ‘‘Van Diemen’s Land Agri- 
cultural Society’? was founded in 1821 (neither day nor 
month stated), thus preceding the New South Wales Agri- 
cultural Society, which was not established until 5th July, 
1822. 
Mr. Piesse (p. 136) also gives an account of the founda- 
tion, on the 14th October, 1843, of a Society which was a 
direct precursor of the Royal Society of Tasmania. I have 
already stated that, according to my researches, the Royal 
Society of New South Wales can only trace its lineal descent 
from a Society founded on 19th January, 1850. I therefore 
am of opinion that our sister Royal Society is the oldest 
scientific Society in Australasia, its seniority to ours being 
six and a quarter years. 
May it long continue to flourish ! 
K * * 
Governor Denison (who came to New South Wales from 
Tasmania) was a great resuscitator of scientific societies. 
Mr. Piesse (pp. 148, 151) gives an account of his work in 
connection with the Tasmanian Society (by the way the 
‘“‘Tasmanian Society’’ has a technical meaning), while at 
pp. 351 and 357, I have given some notes in regard to his 
services to the New South Wales one. 
Mr. Piesse (p. 158) reminds us that the title of the older 
‘Society was, until 1911, ‘“‘The Royal Society of Tasmania 
for Horticulture, Botany and the Advancement of Science.” 
So that while the present title ‘‘ Royal Society of Tasmania’’ 
