280 Proceedings f ' %y TnstituL . 



snaky folds ap to their lips, and their liege lords who k 

 them in the utmost ignorance of any other gods. 



The palm tree of the easl is its apt and mosl striking em- 

 blem, giving from a cluster no deep shade, bul letting sun- 

 Bhine fall difrusedly and cheerily on those below. These 

 trees, more than all other relics of the past, live in the tra- 

 veler's memory; for, like the story of the sultan, whom his 

 slaves propped up in death to receive the plaudits of his 

 people, there is a cry, "Long live the East," but its life, 

 except in natural objects, is gone. 



To go by railroad from old Joppa to Jerusalem will 

 perfect the outrage on the past, and to telegraph from 

 Mamre, where Abraham entertained the angels, will almost 

 rouse that ancient worthy from his sepulchre : yet all these 

 things must come. " The arches of the grand old viaduct 

 of history (through which the streams of oriental life and 

 minstrelsy have flowed to us) already crumble over the 

 traveler's head ; soon none can count their stones. The 

 sand will cover them and no trace remain. Let, then, the 

 few scenes such as we have pictured, link the scientific 

 present to the dreamy past. Let these few relics of old 

 patriarchal times, yet to be seen in oriental lands, at Least 

 secure belief in that grand record of the early eras on which 

 our faith, our hope and destiny depend." 



Adjourned. 



May 24, 1864. 



Ten members present. On motion, Mr. Munseil occu- 

 pied the chair. 



Prof. G. W. Hough, of the Dudley Observatory, an- 

 nounced that he had intended to read a paper to the Insti- 

 tute on thesubjeel of Personal Equation, but his investiga- 

 tions on that subject being yet incomplete, it would lie 



deferred to a future meeting. 



