ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING,

HELD AT THE HOUSE OF THE SOCIETY OF ARTS, MONDAY, JUNE 7TH, 1875.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY, K.G., PRESIDENT, IN THE CHAIR.

The HONORARY SECRETARY, Capt. F. PETRIE, read the following report :

NINTH ANNUAL REPORT of the Council of the VICTORIA INSTITUTE, OR PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Progress of the Institute.

1. In presenting the NINTH ANNUAL REPORT, the Council desires to congratulate the Members and Associates on the general improvement which has taken place as regards the progress of the Society, which progress the Council has always felt rested, in no small degree, with the Members and Associates themselves; and this feeling has certainly become very general in the Institute, and has contributed to the firmness of that support which all have given, and which has tended not only to the Institute's strength and stability, but to increase public confidence in it. During the past year the number of new Members and Associates joining has been greater than in any previous year. The increase in the number of foreign and colonial Members has been very marked of late.

2. The election of the Vice-Presidents and Council has been carried out in accordance with the proposition agreed to at the last Annual Meeting; namely, by voting lists being forwarded to the members. The following have been elected :—

President.-The Right Honourable the EARL OF SHAFTESBURY, K.G.

Vice-Presidents.

PHILIP HENRY GOSSE, Esq., F.R.S.

CHARLES BROOKE, Esq., M.A., F.R.S., P.R.M.S., &c.

C. B. RADCLIFFE, Esq., M.D.,

Rev. ROBINSON THORNTON, D.D.

&c.

W. FORSYTH, Esq., Q.C., LL.D., M.P.

Rev. Principal T. P. BOULTBEE, LL.D.

Hon. Treasurer.-WILLIAM NOWELL WEST, Eeq.

Hon. Sec. and Editor of Journal.-Capt. F. W. H. PETRIE, F.G.S., F.R.S.L., &c.

Hon. Foreign Secretary.-EDWARD J. Morshead, Esq., H.M.C.S.

ROBERT BAXTER, Esq. (Trustee).
Rev. A. DE LA MARE, M.A.
Rear-Admiral E. G. FISHBOURNE, R.N.,
C.B.

R. N. FOWLER, Esq. (Trustee).
WILLIAM H. INCE, Esq., F.L.S.,
F.R.M.S.

ALEX. M'ARTHUR, Esq., M.P.
ALFRED V. NEWTON, Esq.
WILLIAM M. ORD, Esq., M.D.
S. D. WADDY, Esq., Q.C., M.P.
WILLIAM VANNER, Esq., F.R.M.S.
ALFRED J.WOODHOUSE, Esq., F.R.M.S.
Rev. J. H. RIGG, D.D.

Rev. Prebondary Row, M.A.

Rev. Canon TITCOMB, M.A.
J. A. FRASER, Esq., M.D., I.G.H.
Rev. G. HENSLOW, M.A., F.L.S.
Rev. CHARLES GRAHAM.

T. W. MASTERMAN, Esq.

H. CADMAN JONES, Esq., Barrister-at-
Law.

Rev. J. G. WOOD, M.A., F.L.S., &c.
Rev. W. ARTHUR, D.D.

C. R. BREE, Esq., M.D., F.Z.S.
JOHN ELIOT HOWARD, Esq., F.R.S.
Rev. G. W. WELDON, M.A., M.B.
Rev. Principal J. ANGUS, M.A., D.D.
J. BATEMAN, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S.
The Master of the Charterhouse.

3. It is hoped that the Institute will ere long be in a position to revive the office of secretary, the duties of which have been provisionally performed by the Honorary Secretary, since January, 1871.

4. The terms under which the Institute held its late premises being unrenewable, owing to their dilapidated condition, the Council last autumn secured the most convenient new premises obtainable: happily these afford the same accommodation as the old, and are on the same terrace. The rental is higher, owing to the great rise in rents since 1869, when the arrangement was made for the late premises.

5. The number of societies both at home and abroad exchanging Transactions with the Institute is increasing, and the library has received many valuable additions. It is hoped that soon, by the aid of the members, the Institute will possess a larger library fund, and that which is much needed -a good library of reference.

6. The Council regrets to announce the decease of the following valued supporters of the Institute :

Benjamin Bond Cabbell, Esq., M.A., F.R.S. (Vice-Patron); the Ven. Archdeacon Philip Freeman, M.A. (Associate); Robert Hardwicke, Esq. (Foundation Member); the Rev. Prebendary Charles Kemble, M.A. (Foundation Member); John Laird, Esq., M.P. (Member); William Leaf, Esq. (Member); Charles Lloyd, Esq. (Member); Professor William Macdonald, M.D., F.R.S.E. (Foundation Member); Iltudus T. Prichard, Esq. (Member), for some time a zealous member of the Council, where his high character and talents were of no small value to the Institute; Rev. Canon W. Selwyn, D.D., Margaret Professor of Divinity at Cambridge (Associate); Professor Constantin de Tischendorf, D.C.L., LL.D. (Hon. Foreign Correspondent); the Rev. Prebendary John Twells, M.A. (Foundation Member); the Rev. B. S. Vallack, B.A. (Foundation Member); the Rev. J. C. Vivian (Associate).

7. The following is a statement of the changes which have occurred during the past twelve months :

Hon. Foreign Correspondents and Local Secretaries, 11.

Finance.

8. The Audited Balance Sheet of the Treasurer for the year ending 31st December, 1874, is appended, showing a balance in hand of £35. 10s. 3d. It will be observed that the Balance Sheet has been divided into two portions, one headed "General Account," exhibiting a balance in hand of £23. 2s. 8d.; the other entitled the "Special Fund for Library," &c., showing

* It has often been gratifying to find that the support of the very few who have retired has not been entirely withdrawn, some having continued as honorary local secretaries, or sought to further the Institute's interests in some other way, others having expressed an intention of rejoining.

+ Joined beginning of June, 5 Members and 5 Associates; total, 594, and 11-605. The total number on the 1st of January, 1871, was 201,

a balance in hand of £12. 7s. 7d. The total amount now invested in the New Three per Cent. Annuities is £547. 15s. 11d.

9. The arrears of subscription are now as follows:

10. The estimated ordinary assets of the Institute for the current year, exclusive of arrears and of new subscribers, are as follows:

11. The following is a list of the papers for the present session, viz. :

"On the Bearing of certain Paleontological Facts upon the Darwinian Theory of the Origin of Species, and of Evolution in General." By Professor H. A. NICHOLSON, M.D., D.Sc., F.G.S., &c. December 7, 1874. "The Early Dawn of Civilization, considered in the Light of Scripture.' By J. E. HOWARD, Esq., F.R.S. January 4, 1875.

"Observations on some Remarks upon Teleology and Morality by Professor T. H. Huxley." By the Rev. G. HENSLOW, M.A., F.G.S. (Intermediate, January 18.)

"The Indestructibility of Force." By Professor T. R. BIRKS, M.A. (Cambridge). February 1.

"On Mr. Mill's Essays on Theism." By the Rev. Prebendary W. J. IRONS, D.D. (Intermediate, February 15.)

"On the Chronology of Recent Geology." By S. R. PATTISON, Esq., F.G.S. March 1.

"On the Nature and Character of Evidence for Scientific Purposes." By the Rev. J. M'CANN, D.D. (Intermediate, March 15.)

"The Relation of the Scripture Account of the Deluge to Physical Science." By Professor CHALLIS, M.A., F.R.S., F.R.A.S. April 5.

"The Connection between the Philosophy of Locke and the Sceptical Principles of the Day." By H. COLEMAN, Esq., LL.D. (Intermediate, April 19.)

"An Examination of the Belfast Address from a Scientific point of view.” By J. E. HOWARD, Esq., F.R.S. May 3.

Annual Address (at the Society of Arts' House). By the Rev. ROBERT MAIN, M.A., F.R.S., V.P.R.A.S., The Radcliffe Observer. June 7.Anniversary.

"On the Etruscan Language." By Rev. I. TAYLOR, M.A. (At the Society of Arts' House. June 21.)

12. The meetings during this session have been as well attended as usual, the Anniversary, and the meeting of the 21st of June being held at the House of the Society of Arts, the rooms of the Institute not affording adequate accommodation.

Publications.

13. The Eighth Volume of the Journal of Transactions has been issued, and the several quarterly parts for the current year will appear in due course.

14. In the publication of the Transactions, the Council has been careful to include in Editorial notes, and in what may be called "after-papers," any special points which arose in the papers or discussions themselves, but were not taken up during the meetings. The "after papers" already contributed to the present volume are by Professor Challis, F.R.S., Principal Dawson, F.R.S., and Dr. S. Birch (President of the Society of Biblical Archæology).

15. The importance of securing a wider circulation for the Institute's Publications has induced the Council-First, to publish an increased number of the Journal; Secondly, to extend the "People's Edition" of the more popular recent Papers, four of which are now issued in this form, and have been largely sought for, especially for circulation amongst friends, and distribution amongst the working classes in manufacturing, mining, and other districts; the Council, however, regret that the means at their disposal have not allowed them to comply with several requests for grants of papers for the latter purpose: to obviate this difficulty, and in deference to the wish of many members, a "People's Edition Fund" has been established, to which some, even non-Members, have already sent donations :-(a good fund would be a very