ANJ^UAL MEETING. 5 



their Paradise or Good City (tlie Hebrew Eden), and showing that 

 it had two not four rivers, not one God, but " a laicturesque poly- 

 theistic system." The Author further referred to the important 

 bearing of some recently deciphered Babylonian inscriptions 

 referring to the Kings who took part in the battles in the valley of 

 Siddim. 



(A jDromised addition to this evidence is now daily expected from 



Professor Fritz Hommel.) 



Monday, February 3. — " Where is Mount Sinai ? " The results of a 



Scientific Exploration of the Mountain, by Professor E. Hull, 



LL.D., F.E.S., late Director-General of. the Geological Siu-vey of 



Ireland. 



This was an investigation into the tenability of certain views 

 recently advanced, as to the locality of Mount Sinai. Sir Charles 

 Wilson, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., F.Pt.S., and others took part in the 

 investigation. 

 Monday, February 17. — " China's Place in Ancient History," by Surgeon- 

 General Sir C. A. Gordon, K.C.B., Q.H.P., ko,. 



The discussion of this subject was introduced in a valuable paper, 

 practically a sj'uchronous history of the leading events in every 

 country in the world. 

 Monday, March 2. — " Plants and Plant Names of the Polynesians," by 

 H. B. GUPPY, Esq., M.D. 



An investigation in which it was shown that the study of such 

 names told not so much the history of the plant as the history of 

 the people, and showed that the Polynesians had their home in 

 the Indian Archipelago and Fui'ther India ; a view supporting 

 the results of arguments — from entirely different data — of the 

 Rev. S. J. Whitmee and others, vol. xiv, and Dr. Fraser and others, 

 vol. xxii, and, more recently, the Eev. Dr. WooUs. 

 Monday, March 16. — "On some Eelations of Mind and Body," by A. T. 

 ScHOFiELD, Esq., M.D. 



An important and most timely investigation, considering the 

 tendency of modern life and thought. Professor Calderwood 

 (Edin.) and others took part. 

 Monday, April 13 (6th being Easter Monday). — "The Australian 

 Mammals in connection with the Theory of Evolution," by Eev. 

 Theodore Wood, M.A. 

 Monday, April 20. — " The Classification of the Vertebrate Animals," 

 by J. Cleland, LL.D., F.E.S., Professor of Anatomy in Glasgow 

 University. 



An investigation based on the views of Cuvier and the late 



Sir E. Owen, and tending to prove the manifest existence of 



Design in Nature, and illustrating the insufficiency of the theory of 



Natural Selection. Professor Calderwood and others took part. 



Monday, May 4.—" The Difficulties of Evolution," by W. Kidd, Esq., 



M.D. 



A paper including a review of the successes and discouragements 

 of leading investigators of the subject and showing the strength of 

 the evidence for Design in Nature. Professor Hull, F.E.S., Dr. 

 Hutchinson, F.E.S., Dr. Macdonald, E.N., F.E.S., and others took 

 part in the discussion. 

 Monday, May 18. — On "Climate in Egypt in Geological, Prehistoric 

 and Ancient Historic Times," by His Excellency Grant Bey, &c. 



