William T. Denison and his presidency of the Society I had the 

 honour of acting as its Honorary Secretary. We had then to 

 struggle with difficulties, such as only occur in the earliest 

 attempts to organise science in a young community in which the 

 circumstances of life required devotion of the energies of all classes 

 to the essentials of existences and the development of the fii'st 

 principles of Government. It was however, also a period in which 

 the more thoughtful of the community were awakening to the 

 advantages to be attained by the cultivation of science and its 

 application to the varied and special features of the Colony. 



At this critical time the training and special qualifications of 

 the Governor General and President, Sir William T. Denison, the 

 deep interest he took in the young Society, aided by the kind 

 geniality of his disposition, were of the greatest assistance. 

 Always ready to provide papers when asked, he usually selected 

 practical subjects adapted to the circumstances of tlie community 

 and calculated to develope the resources of the country. 



It is evident that during the Presidency of Sir William T. 

 Denison, the Society quickly attained a considerable amount of 

 popularity, for we find that in 1856 ninety-one new members were 

 elected, and its income amounted to £316. Of course this sudden 

 prosperity could not last, and gradually gave way to varying but 

 increasing depression until in 1866, the income had fallen to £43, 

 and it became a question whether the Society could be carried on. 

 Although notwithstanding the depressing vicissitudes, a large 

 number of valuable papers had been read, and a microscopical 

 section had been formed and conversaziones established. 



In 1866 the name was changed to "Royal Society of New 

 South Wales," and an improvement gradually took place in its 

 circumstances. In 1875, Prof. Liversidge and Dr. Leibius were 

 appointed Honorary Secretaries, and in that year the Society 

 rented the building in which we meet, and which it has since 

 purchased. From this date and through the zeal and indefatigable 

 labours of these gentlemen, the Society has become more and more 

 prosperous. I believe I am correct in saying that from this date 



