viii 



Proceedings, 



Ludwig Becker, Esq,, read a paper " On Meteorological Observa- 

 tions at Bcndigo." 



Presents acknowledged, — Collection of Crystals of Gypsums 

 from the Salt Water River — Edward Wilson, Esq. 



January dlh, 1855. 

 Monthly MEETiNa, The President in the Chair. 



The minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed. 



The Honorary Secretary informed tlie Meeting that in compli- 

 ance with the resolution agreed to at the last General Meeting, 

 respecting the application to His Excellency the Lieutenant-Go- 

 vernor, for a grant, for the purpose of carrying out the scheme of 

 an Exploring Expedition contemplated by the Society, the following 

 correspondence has taken place between His Excellency the Lieu- 

 tenant-Governor and one of the Honorary Secretaries : — 



Museum of Natural History, Melbourne, 

 December 14th, 1854. 



Sir — T have the honour to enclose the copy of a memorial of the 

 Members of the Philosophical Society of Victoria to His l^:xcellency the 

 Lieutenant-Governor, and request you will be pleased to ascertam when 

 it will be convenient to His Excellency to meet the deputation, consistmg 

 of the Surveyor-General, Dr. Hutchinson, and Dr. Iffla, appomted to 

 present the said memorial. 



I have the honour to remain, Sir, 



Your most obedient Servant, 



S. Wekey, Hon. Sec. 



Captain J. H. Kay, R.N., Private Secretary. 



To the above letter the following reply was received :— 



Government Offices, 

 Melbourne, 18th December, 1854. 



Sir—T am directed by the Lieutenant-Governor to acknowledge the 

 receipt of your letter of the 14th inst. ; and in rcplymg to it His Excel- 

 lency trusts that the Philosophical Society of Victoria will not think 

 him inattentive to their wishes, if he conveys his views to them in 



'"""^^rhe^iieutenant-Governor regrets that the insufficiency of the public 

 funds to meet the public requirements renders it imperative upon him 

 to stay every possible expense ; but that with regard to gold the nume- 

 rous prospecting parties (which are searching the length and breadth ot 



