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Science and the making of VictoriaRoyal Society of Victoria
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Inaugural and Anniversary Addresses of the Royal Society

Inaugural Address, delivered by Mr. Justice Barry, President of the Institute, at the Opening Converzazione, 22nd Sept., 1854

Inaugural Address of the President, Captain Clarke, R. E., Surveyor-General, &c., &c.

Anniversary Address of the President, the Honourable Andrew Clarke, Captain R. E., M.P., Surveyor-General of Victoria, &c., &c., &c.

Anniversary Address of the President, His Honor Sir William Foster Stawell, Knight, Chief Justice of Victoria, &c., &c. [Delivered to the Members of the Institute, 12th April, 1858]

Anniversary Address of the President, Ferdinand Mueller, Esq., Ph.D., M.D. F.R.G. and L.S., &c., &c. [Delivered to the Members of the Institute, 28th March, 1859]

Address of the President, Ferdinand Mueller, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.G. & L.S., &c., &c. [Delivered to the Members of the Institute at the Inauguration of the Hall, January 23rd, 1860.]

Inaugural Address of the President, His Excellency Sir Henry Barkly, K.C.B., &c., &c. [Delivered to the Members of the Royal Society, at the Anniversary Meeting held on the 10th April, 1860.]

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Address of the President, Ferdinand Mueller, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.G. & L.S., &c., &c.
[Delivered to the Members of the Institute at the Inauguration of the Hall, January 23rd, 1860.] (continued)


The objects of scientific organization are manifold—one of high interest is to understand our time and to respond to its call. Living in an age no longer content with advancing isolated doctrines, we have been guided by a brilliant star (rising in incomparable lustre on the firmament of science) to those generalisations by which are brought in universal contact the distant departments of knowledge, whilst in their grand reactions they celebrate the highest triumph of mental power. This is the ideal which, in faint outlines, appears in the morning rays of a promising future.

And as the leader to this ideal, stands before us Humboldt—the Aristotle of this century. He stands before us as the type of sterling nobility, great as a man through his philanthropic modesty, a genius of universal knowledge, the brightest ornament and highest ruler of the world of science. With the light of this leading star we are entering this new promising epoch.

The present age is also characterised by a much more complete ascendancy, which science is gaining over almost every branch of industry, of which she has become the benefactor and the guardian. Does not, therefore, a sphere of unlimited utility lie here before us?—here, where the field for active life is so extensive, and where the laborers of science are so few? Our means are great; may we wisely use them! And may the value of our work be measured by its influence on the welfare of this country! Under such anticipations we accept this hall, entrusted to us as a possession in which science should reap its never-failing harvest.

Let us leave it as a heritage to our successors, conscious of having deserved the gift—of having responded to the onfidence by which the rulers of this country have patronised all our designs. May the tempest of discord never re-echo from these walls! May every word resounding here be one expressive of friendly feelings, of philosophic thoughts, of elevated inspiration for all that is noble; and, in aiming to fulfil the destiny for which we here are called, may our symbols be "Concord and Progress!"


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