70 [May, 



" the evidence is so complete as to be patent to all ,5 that the quantity of its 

 vegetable products distinguishes it from the earth's surface during the era in which 

 we live. To confound by implication all the periods termed palaeozoic, so as to 

 apply to them as a whole what could be true, if at all, only of the carboniferous 

 period, is a fallacious use of a generalization made for a purpose and upon a 

 principle not properly available for the writer's argument. The high esteem in 

 which the character of Mr. Miller is deservedly held by readers in the United 

 States, where his writings are widely circulated ; and the respectful manner in 

 which his interesting researches have occasioned his name to be mentioned by 

 authors eminent in the department of geology, give to such of his writings as 

 bear upon the biblical question, peculiar importance with reference to the com- 

 munity at large. 



Mr. F- urged the duty of insisting upon the maintenance of regular methods 

 of exposition as well as of investigation, leaving apparent inconsistencies, 

 which are beyond our means of explanation, to be "reconciled" by our 

 successors with the aid of larger accumulations of knowledge than we possess. 

 The progress of science has been retarded by the assumption that every discovery 

 must be immediately proved to be harmonious with certain other portions of our 

 knowledge. A due regard to the sacredness of religious faith and to the natural 

 sensitiveness of the popular mind will secure respectful caution; but it is most 

 consistent with the acknowledged imperfection of human faculties, and at the 

 same time most worthy of the true dignity of science, to assume that ultimately 

 all truths will be found to agree ; and meantime, strictly adhering to the canons 

 of evidence, to explore courageously the great field open to us. We ought espe- 

 cially to avoid generalizations which have no sound philosophical principle, or 

 which are framed or applied merely from a desire to appease over-zealous minds 

 ignorant of the facts already ascertained. This obligation is stronger in propor- 

 tion to the degree of confidence given to the teacher in any case, and also in 

 proportion to the limitation of access to other sources of information. 



May lQtJim 

 Vice-President Bridges in the Chair. 



Letters were read 



From the Imperial Soc. of Naturalists of Moscow, dated May 30tb ; 

 June 1st, and September 13th, 1853 ; 



From the Kaiserlichen Akad. der Wissenschaften, dated Vienna, 10th 

 Nov., 1853 ; 



From the Royal Academy of Sciences of Stockholm, dated 23d Nov,, 

 1853; 



From the K. K. Geologischen Reiebenstalt, dated Vienna, 22d Nov., 

 1853, severally transmitting their publications announced this evening 

 by the Librarian. 



From the Royal Acad, of Sciences of Stockholm, dated Nov. 1, 1853 ; 



From the K. K. Geologischen Reiebenstalt, dated Vienna, 21st Nov., 

 T853 ; 



From the Smithsonian Institution, dated Washington, May 10th 7 

 1854; and 



From the Portland Society of Nat. History, dated Portland, Maine? 

 11th May, 1854, severally acknowledging the receipt of the Publications 

 of the Academy. 



Dr. Le Conte presented a paper for publication in the Proceedings, 

 -entitled " Notes on some new Coleopterous Insects from the Collections'' 



