for the year 1867. X1li 
and here and there similiar forms may now be found— 
they belong to idiots. One of these was discovered a few 
years ago by Dr. Binder, who, at the request of M. Macé 
presented itto me. It is now in the collection belonging to 
the museum. It will henceforth be counted among the ele- 
ments of the great discussion on the nature of man which 
now agitates philosophers and troubles consciences ; out of 
which discussion, some day, the divine majesty of man 
_ shall arise consecrated by combat, and ever henceforth be 
inviolable and triumphant.” 
Our observatory has been occupied with its accustomed 
work in astronomy, terrestrial magnetism, meteorology, and 
collateral branches of physical science. The most im- 
portant amongst the subjects that have engaged its attention 
during the past year is the Melbourne share of the survey 
of the southern heavens. The objects of this undertaking 
I fully explained to you in my last address, when I also 
mentioned that our observatory had been selected as one of 
three British observatories to which this most important 
work should be entrusted. Our portion of this survey was 
commenced about twelve months ago, and has progressed 
steadily ever since. At the end of the year the positions 
and magnitudes of over 10,000 stars had been catalogued. 
The second volume of Astronomical Observations has 
been published ; it contains the results of the astronomical 
work of the observatory from the time of its removal from 
Williamstown in June, 1863, until the end of 1865. A 
complete set of magnetographs has been constructed in 
London and verified at Kew for this observatory ; they are 
expected to arrive daily. These instruments are of a form 
now accepted as the standard one, at least in all British ob- 
servatories; they will be self-registering by means of 
photography, so that the time, direction, and amount of 
variation of the force of terrestrial magnetism will be con- 
