The steady progress of the Institute in every way, and the increasing number of those in the highest walks of Science who are taking part in its work-the greater such support the greater will be the value of the work done-and the ever-increasing esteem in which its Transactions are held, afford much cause for thankfulness, and give rise to an earnest hope that it may ever accomplish its work Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

Reporting

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12

1886

Insurance

Management

The Honorary Secretary (Captain FRANCIS PETRIE, F.G.S.) first read the letters of regret from those unable to be present, adding that Sir Richard Owen, of whom all Englishmen were so justly proud, had sent a special letter of regret. Having referred to the presence that evening of one of the Council,-Dr. R. H. Gunning,who had done so much for the advancement of science by his munificent donation of £16,000 last autumn to various British scientific institutions,* he concluded by pointing out the leading features of the Report which was in the hands of all present; alluding,-first, to the increasing number of distinguished men joining the Institute, and remarking that in no one year since its foundation had so many new members joined; secondly, to the growing importance of its transactions; thirdly, to the need of a larger special fund, so that the library books of reference and other matters might not be neglected; and finally, pointing out the important uses made of the Institute by its members, as detailed in the fourteenth section of the Report.

Sir J. RISDON BENNETT, F.R.S.--I have to ask this meeting to accept the following resolution :-"That the Report be received, and the thanks of the Members and Associates presented to the Council, Honorary Officers, and Auditors for their efficient conduct of the business of the Victoria Institute during the past year." I regret very much that this duty has not fallen to some one more competent to speak upon the subject than I can pretend to be, owing to my want of close acquaintance with the working of the Institute. I am, however, happy to be able to say that the question of the utility of the Institute is no longer before us; for it is, I think, admitted by all who have had any knowledge of its operations, that it has all along been so conducted as to have been productive of a vast deal of good, while it is well calculated to effect a still larger amount

Dr. Gunning's Victoria Jubilee gifts included,-£105 triennially to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, to be named the "Victoria Jubilee Prize" for the Advancement of Science; £40 yearly to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland; £200 yearly to Edinburgh University for eleven post gradation prizes; £100 triennially to the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh as a prize for the greatest benefit done to practical medicine; £120 triennially to the Royal College of Surgeons, as a prize to be open to all Fellows and Licentiates, for the greatest benefit done to practical surgery; £40 annually to the Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women for a bursary; also £100 to the Ben Nevis Observatory; and many other gifts. Dr. Gunning, F.R.S.E., is a dignitary of the Brazilian Empire, where he has just given a large sum for the advancement of somewhat similar objects.

of useful work. We have only to look at the volume just issued by the Society to perceive how very varied have been the subjects, and how specially competent have been the men, who have initiated and sustained the discussions. The great value of the Victoria Institute is, that it brings forward special subjects of a scientific character through the medium of those who have devoted their attention to the particular line of research connected with those matters, while on the evenings upon which the discussions are taken, those who are interested in the questions dealt with, and capable of criticising or confirming the views of the authors of the papers, are enabled to enter into a full and efficient examination of the points at issue. I believe there are comparatively few persons in this room who are competent to criticise all the papers contained in the remarkable volume just issued by the Institute. No single individual is capable of entering into the details of these varied branches of science, and I think I may say we are all aware that in those particular departments of science which we do cultivate, we are obliged to admit that we are still in a state of progress, and are not in a position to speak dogmatically, except with regard to a very small part of the branch to which our lives may be devoted. All our knowledge is progressive, year by year we are making further and further advances, and it would be folly to say that in any single department of science we have so settled and determined our facts and inferences that it is impossible to alter their position. All scientific men will admit this. No doubt we have certain principles as to which we may say that every advance in science has only tended to confirm them; but we know that many of the objections that have been raised against Divine Revelation are based on socalled facts connected with science that have as yet received very imperfect confirmation. I will not occupy your time by dilating on the general operations of this Institute, especially as we shall have before us to-night a paper on a subject that will interest a large portion of this audience, and in regard to which comparatively few of us know what we should like to know. The subject is, however, one so frequently referred to, that it is of extreme importance we should have the advantage of its elucidation by one so thoroughly competent as the author of the paper. I will, therefore, simply confine myself to moving the resolution I have read.

Mr. H. W. BRISTOW, F.R.S. (Senior Director of the Geological Survey of Great Britain).-In seconding the resolution just sub

mitted to the meeting, I may say that I am sure all present have heard with great pleasure the Report read by the Honorary Secretary. The Institute is now established on a firm, sure, and solid foundation, the number of our members has been largely increased, and the papers read before the Institute continue to retain all their former value and importance. I was very glad to see in the last volume issued by the Institute that among the papers which have been contributed were two,-one by my old and valued colleague, Professor Hull, and the other by Professor Hughes, of Cambridge, both of them men well capable, from long experience, of discussing the subjects on which they have written. I hope we shall see many more such papers from them, and I trust that the circulation of the volumes of our Proceedings will be still more augmented, not only through this country, but also in our Colonies, and elsewhere, wherever the English language is spoken. I also hope we may continue to hear of large increases, both in the number of our members and in the contributions necessary for the support of this Society. It is a gratifying circumstance that so far our course has been one of hopefulness, and our progress one of successful achievement. I think we may regard the future with a confident trust in the continued success of the efforts of the Institute, and that we may look forward to the time when our former efforts may be largely increased under the auspices of our President, whose calm and dispassionate judgment and extended survey over the vast world of science and philosophy, aided and supported as he is by a large and influential Council, whose names and abilities are recognised, and who are assisted by the constant efforts of a zealous and indefatigable Honorary Secretary, must result in continued advantage to this important and useful Society.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

Mr. D. HOWARD, F.C.S.-On behalf of the Council I have to thank you for the vote which has just been passed. I can assure you that to all the members of the Council the work in which we engage is one in which we are at all times very deeply interested, and is a matter of most anxious thought. If we have succeeded in any appreciable measure, we are thereby most amply repaid. To take part in the great work which is set before us is, in itself, no slight privilege. I will not take up the time of the meeting by going over ground upon which we are all agreed in regard to the great importance of this Institute; but I would ask you one and all to be upon your guard, and to induce others to be upon their