LECTUEE ON ACCLIMATISATION. 
The subject on which I have the honour of addressing you this 
evening is one now exciting great interest in Europe, and is 
becoming of great importance: it is the acclimatisation or art 
of introducing the mammalia, birds, fishes, and insects into 
countries to which they are foreign, utilising them in places 
where they were formerly unknown, and in such congenial 
localities as may conduce to their being reared and propagated 
with success—thus reducing our scientific knowledge to useful 
and practical purposes. 
This art, from its value to mankind generally, is at the 
present time making rapid progress in Europe, and through the 
great exertions of Mr. Edward Wilson is firmly established at 
Melbourne, and extending to other British colonies. 
That the subject of Acclimatisation is not of recent origin is 
proved by reference to the works of Lord Bacon, upwards of 
250 years since, who, in his “New Atlantis ,” in an edition in my 
possession, of 1027 (p. 35), shadows it forth in these words— 
“ We have also parks, and enclosures of all sorts of beasts and 
birds, which we use not only for view or rareness, but likewise 
for dissections and trialls. That thereby we may take light, 
what may be wrought upon the body of man.”—“ We try also 
poysons and other medicines upon them, as well as of chyrur- 
gery, and physicke.” “ We have also particular pools, where we 
make trialls upon fishes, as we have said before of beasts and 
birds.” “ We have also places for breed and generation of those 
kindes of worms and flies which are of special use, such are 
with you your silkworms and bees.” 
