An enumeration of the items which supply our daily wants, and minister to our enjoyments, would at once shew that the advantage which we thus possess, surround us so closely on every side, that, like the air we breathe, we direct to them the less attention on account of their invariable presence.

When we further note the amount of discovery and improvement which each age in the history of man has contibuted, it becomes apparent that the progress has partaken less of an arithmetical than a geometrical proportion. Each bravery has opened a wider field for new discoveries; improvement in one branch of knowledge has lent assistance to the development of every other, until the amelioration of the conditions of life, and the facilities of action have become such as to react, in no common degree, upon the available power of a single life devoted to the pursuit of truth.

Thus while a knowledge of the nature and origin of disease has afforded the means of prolonging the average duration of life, the appliances of locomotive printing and other machinery have made that life of thrice its former duration, measuring it by the scale of the number of events for which it is available.

But these extensive advances by no means shew reason for relaxing our efforts, for while we are daily encouraged by important discoveries and a nearer approach to long desired truths, we are at the same time obtaining sight of a more widely extended horizon.

With this stimulous to our efforts and mindful of the duty incurred by acceptance of these bequests of exclusive knowledge, we must each endeavour to add his tribute to the common store.

Royal Society of Victoria