2. The Council regret to state that the Institute has lost two of its original Members by death, and that there have been six withdrawals, some of which, however, it is hoped, may not be final; as, with one exception, they have been accompanied with expressions of regret at leaving the Society, and of continued sympathy with its objects, and were not sent in till after the commencement of the present year.

Finance.

3. The Balance-Sheet of the TREASURER is appended to this Report, showing the actual Receipts and Expenditure for the past year.

4. Taking the numbers upon the Foundation Lists, the total assets for the year ending 31st Dec., 1866, amount to £959. 14s. Od. Of this amount, the sum of £430. 10s. accrued from the donations of the Vice-Patrons, Life Members, and Life Associates, and has been, or will be, funded; leaving the balance of £529. 4s. as the amount of annual subscriptions, or the ordinary income of the Institute. For the present year (1867), taking the annual subscribers standing upon the lists on 1st May (and omitting the names above referred to as possible withdrawals), the assets will be as follows:

219 Foundation Members, at £2. 2s.
3 Members,

Do., Entrance Fees

15 1st Class Associates

at

...

£459 18

...

66

3 3

31 10

29 8

£530 5

18 Vice-Patrons, Life Members, and Life

Associates.

283 Total.

5. This income is quite sufficient to meet the expenditure of the Institute, so far as the Council can yet venture to endeavour to carry out its Objects. Convenient apartments as offices, and for holding the meetings of the Society, have been

secured, on moderate terms, from the Architectural Union Institute; and the primary objects of the Society have been already successfully advanced by the various papers read and discussed at the ordinary meetings of the Institute. But it must be obvious that before Objects 6 and 7 can be hoped to be undertaken or realized, there must be a large accession of numbers, and an increase of the funds of the Society, and that thoroughly qualified paid officers must be employed to aid in carrying out these objects to the full extent contemplated. At present there is only one paid officer of the Society, Mr. C. H. H. Stewart, who is engaged as clerk at a moderate salary.

Meetings.

6. Sixteen Ordinary Meetings have been held since the inauguration of the Victoria Institute on 24th May last year, and two more will be held next month, to complete the Session for 1866-67. The following are the titles of the papers for each of those meetings, and the authors' names, viz. :

By

A Sketch of the Existing Relations between Scripture and Science. GEORGE WARINGTON, Esq., F.C.S., M.V.I. (Read and discussed June 4th, 1866.)

On the Difference in Scope between Scripture and Science. By the late C. MOUNTFORD BURNETT, Esq., M.D., Vice-President V.I. (June 18th.) On Comparative Philology. By Rev. ROBINSON THORNTON, D.D., Head Master of Epsom College, M.V.I. (July 2nd.)

On the Various Theories of Man's Past and Present Condition. By JAMES REDDIE, Esq., Hon. Sec. V.I. (July 16th.)

On the Language of Gesticulation and Origin of Speech. By Professor J. R. YOUNG, M.V.I. (19th Nov.)

On Miracles; their Compatibility with Philosophical Principles. By the Rev. W. W. ENGLISH, M.A., M.V.I. (3rd Dec.)

Thoughts on Miracles. By E. B. PENNY, Esq., M.V.I. (3rd Dec.)

On the General Character of Geological Formations. By EVAN HOPKINS,
Esq., C.E., F.G.S., M.V.I. (17th Dec.)

On the Past and Present Relations of Geological Science to the Sacred
Scriptures. By the Rev. Professor JOHN KIRK, M.V.I. (7th Jan.)
On the Lessons taught us by Geology in relation to God.

By the Rev.

J. BRODIE, M.A., M.V.I. (21st Jan.) On the Mutual Helpfulness of Theology and Natural Science. By Dr. GLADSTONE, F.R.S., M.V.I. (21st Jan.)

On Falling Stars and Meteorites. By the Rev. WALTER MITCHELL, M.A., Vice-President V.I. (4th Feb.)

On the Probable Ages of the Continents, founded upon Astronomical Data and Geological Facts. By EVAN HOPKINS, Esq., C.E., F.G.S., M.V.I. (18th Feb.)

On the Credibility of Darwinism.

By GEORGE WARINGTON, Esq., F.C.S.,

M.V.I. (March 4th, March 18th, and April 1st.)

On Utilitarianism. By JAMES REDDIE, Esq., Hon. Sec. V.I. (April 15th.) On the Logic of Scepticism. By the Rev. ROBINSON THORNTON, D.D., M.V.I. (May 6th.)

On the General Isomorphism of all Crystalline Bodies, and the Relation of all Forms of Crystals to those of the Cubical System. By the Rev. WALTER MITCHELL, M.A., Vice-Pres. V. I. (To be read June 3rd.) On the Relations of Metaphysical and Physical Science to the Christian Doctrine of Prayer. By the Rev. Prof. JOHN KIRK, M.A., M.V.I. (June 17th.)

7. The meetings have been well attended, and generally very great interest has been taken in the papers read and in the discussions that have followed, which have been fully reported in the Journal of Transactions, in accordance with Object 4. This is, no doubt, attended with considerable expense; but the advantages are undeniable, and the Council have reason to believe that the Members generally have felt the great importance of the printed discussions in furthering the best interests of the Institute..

Publications.

8. The Papers read between 4th June, 1866, and 4th February, 1867, with the discussions thereon, have now been published in the first four numbers of the Journal of Transactions, completing Vol. I. thereof. The remaining papers of the Session, with the discussions upon them, will be published in due course in subsequent numbers of the Journal, each number being published, as nearly as practicable, every quarter.

9. In addition to these regular publications of the Journal of Transactions, since the Inaugural Meeting, the Council have authorized the separate publication of the Rev. Professor Kirk's admirable Discourse on Geological Theories, read before the Society on the 7th of January last, mainly with the view of making the objects and practical working of the Society known, and to obtain new members; the pamphlet, Scientia Scientiarum, and the Vice-President's Inaugural Address having been in like manner distributed, and sold separately, for the same purposes. Separate copies of each paper read before the Society, with the discussions thereon, have also been thrown off to a limited extent, partly for the authors of the papers, and partly for gratuitous distribution in likely quarters, to make the work of the Institute better known.

10. The Council feel that they may confidently appeal to the Journal of the Transactions, so far as published, as an ample

justification of the institution of the Society, and as the best evidence of its importance, and of the success which has attended its earliest operations.

Regulations and Bye-laws.

11. It was intended to have summoned a Special General Meeting previous to the present, for the purpose of agreeing to the Regulations relating to the Objects, Constitution and Bye-laws of the Institute. The pressure of other business, however, has prevented this being done, and the Bye-laws are now therefore submitted for the consideration and adoption of the present General Meeting, as printed and approved by the Council.

12. The Council desire that they may be permitted to add to the Foundation Lists of the Institute the names of new Members and Associates, upon such terms as they may deem advisable; several names having already been added, although enrolled after 31st December last, at the candidates' earnest desire, and upon their paying the same subscriptions as the Members who had joined prior to that date.

Conclusion.

13. The Council trust that the success which has attended the first year of the Society's existence will only serve as a stimulus to the Members and Associates to exert themselves, in order to secure the further accession of its numbers and continued prosperity. The addition of new and active members, who will take part in our proceedings and contribute papers, is of the greatest importance. If every Member and Associate would only induce one other to join, our numbers would quickly be doubled; and it is mainly by such individual exertions, and the co-operation of those gentlemen who have kindly engaged to act as Honorary Local Secretaries, that the objects of the Victoria Institute can be made known and fully attained.

Signed on behalf of the Council,

WALTER MITCHELL, Vice-President,

Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN.-I now beg to call upon the Treasurer to read the first balance-sheet.

The balance-sheet was then read by Capt. Fishbourne, as follows:

FIRST ANNUAL BALANCE SHEET, from 24th May, 1865, to 31st December, 1866.

11 Associates (1st class) at £2. 2s. each annually
3 Life Associates (2nd class) at £10. 10s. each
22 Associates (2nd class) at £1. 1s. each annually.
1 Ditto, Subscription for 1867

A Subscriber (per J. J. Lidgett, Esq.)
Journals sold at Office.

present Clerk (6 months)

Advertising

£725 0 0

Subscriptions for 1866, still due:

1 Life Member

63

0

63 0

27 Annual Members

13 Annual Members

27 6

1 Associate (1st Class)

Examined and found correct.-J. J. LIDGETT,

W. VANNER,

56 14 0