36 THE EIGHT HON. LORD KELVIN, G.C.V.O., ON 



The Lord Chancellor (Earl Halsbuey, F.R.S.) — As we have 

 been dealing so lavishly with millions of years, you will not 

 STudsre me half a minute to return thanks to Lord Kelvin, and 

 those authors who have taken part in the work of the session. 



I am afraid, interesting as have been some of his communi- 

 cations, the subject is of such vastness that, although he has put 

 before us some most valuable propositions, any one of which 

 might form the subject of a most interesting debate and opening 

 up, as he has a whole fountain ot learning and science at every 

 turn of his Address, they have been so numerous, that some 

 present may have failed to appreciate them. My own impression 

 at present is (I have not had the opportnnit}^ of studying more 

 deeply what my noble friend has said), that he has criticised with 

 great power a number of gentlemen who seem, to adopt the 

 principle that if the facts do not accord with the theories, so much 

 the worse for the facts. (Applause and laughter.) I think, under 

 these circumstances, you will agree that we are all deeply indebted 

 to Lord Kelvin for what he has said. Pei'haps we are more 

 deeply indebted to him than we appreciate for the moment ; for it 

 will be on record here that a gentleman of Lord Kelvin's eminence, 

 learning, and wonderful power of investigating nature has been 

 here delivering an address to a Society of this character the prin- 

 cipal function of which, I believe, is to show that there is nothing 

 inconsistent between Revelation and Science, and to show, as he 

 has done, that many of the theories at all events, which are 

 supposed to conflict with that proposition, are utterly without 

 foundation. (Applause.) 



Sir J. Fatree, Bart., K.C.S.I., F.R.S. — It gives me much pleasure, 

 as it is a great honour, to be permitted to second the vote of thanks 

 that has been proposed by the noble Lord who has just sat down. 



It would be as presumptuous in me, as it wou.ld be unnecessar)-, 

 if I were to try to add anything to what has just been said ; but 

 still I should like to remark, from the Victoria Institute point of 

 view — of which I happen now to be a very old member — how very 

 gratifying it is to this Institute that it should have been addressed 

 by the most distinguished leading man of science of the present 

 day. ^Applause.) I think this, and many other things that have 



