ANNUAL MEETING. 9 
The Honorary Secretary (Captain Francis Perri, 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 muni- 
ficent 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. Rispon Beyyerr, 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, 
