So JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 



results. These philosophers have embraced the principles which Plato, 

 in his " Republic " counsels us to adopt towards our rulers and 

 guardians, the people, that they " may grow up, not amid images of 

 deformity which will gradually poison and corrupt their souls, but in a 

 land of health and beauty, where they will drink in from every object 

 sweet and harmonious influences." 



A vote of thanks to the retiring President, Baron von Mueller, 

 moved by Mr. Morton of Hobart, and seconded by Professor W. H. 

 Warren of Sydney, was carried by acclamation. 



The Chairman then invited Professor Goodale, President of the 

 American Association for the Advancement of Science, to address the 

 meeting. 



Professor Goodale, who was received with loud and continued 

 applause, said — Mr. President, your Excellency, ladies and gentlemen, 

 — My first duty is to thank you heartily Sir James, and you, my dear 

 Baron, for the very warm welcome you have extended to me. Be 

 assured that these cordial expressions are most sincerely appreciated. 

 My second duty is to bring to you greetings from the American 

 Association for the Advancement of Science. When, a few years ago, 

 we learned that one of your most energetic professors had taken in 

 hand the formation of an Australasian Association, somewhat on the 

 lines of the British Association and our own, we took the deepest 

 interest in the plans, for we hoped that you would realise what we have 

 secured. In these days of extreme specialism there is need of a broad 

 general association, so that specialists might conter together ; that they 

 can widen the outlook and that those who are cultivating small poi'tions 

 of the field can see that the ground near to the fence is not neglected. 

 Now, under a general association like this, specialists can meet and 

 confer together, and they can preserve that which they certainly hope 

 to preserve. Then again we have found, and I have no doubt you will 

 find, that general meetings of associations like this diminish, if they 

 don't fully prevent and remove personal misunderstandings. Some- 

 times these misunderstandings are allowed to grow until at last they 

 are intensified. In associations like the British Association and our 

 own we tind the tendency to anything like personal differences to 

 diminish and disappear, and I hope you will find the same. We have 

 found that the British Association and our own have always done good, 

 by their visits, to the community where the meetings were held. A 

 good many have criticised unfavourably this migratory tendency, 

 holding that it is better to have the meetings in some central place. 

 But it seems that in this the old fable comes back, that " strength 

 seems to be restoied every time we touch new ground." This migratory 

 tendency is the survival of the migratory tendency inherited from our 

 ancestors. I feel very sure if you were to put it to the vote in the 

 British Association you would not receive a single positive vote in 

 favour of substituting for these missions, as we may call them, one 

 resident place. Now, when we heard that an Australasian Association 

 was to be formed in this manner, our hopes and best wishes went 

 out to you, and when the opportunity came to present felicitations 

 on. your success it was most eagerly accepted; so that I have now 

 great pleasure in presenting, on behalf of the Association I represent, 

 our congratulations upon the pronounced success of the Australasian 



