AN ANNUAL ADDRESS {CHIEFLY ON J HE 

 SUBJECT OF THE RONTGEN RAYS). 



My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, 



I liad intended, in opening raj address, to say a few words 

 as to the objects of the Victoria Institute ; but I think Avhat 

 you have heard from Professor Hull in great measure relieves 

 me of that duty, and it will therefore leave me more time to 

 speak on a particular scientific sabject, which is one that 

 excites a great deal of interest at the present day. The 

 objects of the Institute are contained, shortly, in the Report 

 which the Hon. Secretary has just read. In furtherance of 

 those objects it has struck me that it would be a useful 

 thing, from time to time, to "take stock," if I may so express 

 myself, as to what is known in this or that branch of science; 

 because sometimes the general public take for granted the 

 accuracy of what has been asserted in the name of science, 

 although it may be by persons who themselves have no 

 very strong claim to be regarded as scientific men. The 

 public accordingly are liable to be misled as to what it is 

 that is well established in science and what it is that is mere 

 conjecture. 



Now although truth is but one and cannot contradict 

 itself, yet what is supposed to be truth may be in con- 

 tradiction to something else which, on totally different 

 grounds, is supposed to be true. In such a case, it be- 

 hoves us to examine the evidence of that which is supposed 

 to be true on the one hand or the other. 



One of the chief objects of the Victoria Institute is to 

 examine, Irom the point of view of science, such questions 

 as may have arisen from an apparent conflict between 

 scientific results and religious truths ; to enquire whether 

 the scientific results are or are not well founded. The utility 

 of the Institute depends, in my opinion, in a very great 

 measure, on the perfect impartiality with which that en- 

 deavour is carried out. 



It may be that the result of the enquiiy is to show that 

 what was supposed to be established on scientific grounds is 

 really nothing more than a more or less plausible conjecture 

 which this or that scientific man may have thrown out. It 



