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stands. (Hear, hear.) It is not my business to speak of the good it 
has effected. There was a time when I had the honour of delivering 
the Annual Address, and I then endeavoured to show what was the 
course actually taken and what was the position the Institute held 
in regard to the great battle of truth—Christian and Divine truth— 
which we are all bound to engage in fighting. I will not, therefore, refer to 
that subject, especially as Sir J. Lefroy has dealt with it in a very 
effective manner; but I must be allowed to make reference to some 
of our members who have passed away from among us during the year. 
I would first mention Dr. Boultbee, who was a man of great influence, 
high character, and a most valuable member. (Hear, hear.) We have 
lost in him a faithful and influential friend, and we should be very glad if 
there were many more of his calibre and standing to swell our number 
and increase our power for good. We have also lost a man whose name 
T cannot mention without feeling how very much the two past generations 
have owed to him. He was one who held some opinions with which all 
Christian people would not agree; but he was a learned man, an 
able man, a devoted man, a man of science, and a very humble 
Christian : I allude to the late Professor Birks. Besides him, we have 
lost Mr. John Eliot Howard. His certainly is a name not to be men- 
tioned inconnexion with this Institute without awakening memories of the 
exceeding value of his services and of his connexion with us during many 
years. He wasa man of admirably accurate knowledge, and of great force and 
elasticity of thought. He held a firm grip on the truths which most needed 
to be held fast, and was one of our strong pillars. (Hear.) We are very 
glad, at all events, that his name is not unrepresented in our midst at the 
present moment. (Hear, hear.) There are others who might also have been 
mentioned, some of them corresponding members of the Society, and men of 
great Continental eminence ; but those I have enumerated were well known 
to us, and men who have added to the splendour—if I may use so strong a 
word—of that galaxy of bright and noble names which, if you will look at 
the list, render very brilliant indeed the roll of the Victoria Institute. 
(Hear, hear.) 
The resolution was then put and agreed to. 
Mr. D. Howarp, V.P. Inst. Chemistry.—On behalf of the council, I beg 
to thank the meeting very cordially for the vote of thanks it has just passed. 
T can only say that the desire of the council is to carry on the business 
of the Institute on the lines that have been so eloquently laid down 
in moving this resolution. I do not say we have never made mistakes, 
but I will say that our work has not been lightly done, nor without a 
very keen sense of its importance and responsibility; and if any of our 
members do not approve of our work, we would say, Why do you not come 
and help us to do better? There is, I think, great need for the work of the 
Institute. Clearly as it is shown, year after year, as time and thought go 
on, that there is no opposition between the works of God in nature and 
