Inaugural address by His Excellency F. A. Weld, ESQ., C.M.G., President of the Society, at opening of Session of 1876.

Gentlemen, I have willingly acceded to the request that I should open this session of the Royal Society with an address, because I wish to take an opportunity of testifying the interest I feel in the Society, not only as its President and as Governor of the colony, but also in my individual capacity; and although I do not pretend to any special scientific acquirements beyond those common to most educated men, and must confess to having forgotten much which I formerly knew, there are, perhaps, some topics upon which I may touch without rashness or unduly presuming upon your patience. It is, gentlemen, a matter of congratulation that the Australian colonies, though hardly yet more than emerging from their infancy, have shown a great and increasing interest in scientific research.