THE AGE OF THE EARTH. 37 



occurred of late years, go far to remove any of the false impres- 

 sions set abroad about the nature, object, and purposes of this 

 Institute. I feel that it is also an endorsement of what we were 

 told long, long ago by Bishop Butler, that we had a perfect right 

 to the due use of our reason— reason being the one only faculty 

 with which the Alraighty has endowed us, by which we can 

 understand anything at all, even Revelation itself. Therefore I 

 think, with such an example from such a man, the Victoria 

 Institute may well go on prosecuting the investigations it has 

 been conducting, in my judgment so well, during many past years. 



I beg to second the vote of thanks that has just been proposed 

 to Lord Kelvin for his very admirable and interesting* Address 

 (applause), and those authors who have taken part in the work 

 of the session. 



The resolution was carried by acclamation. 



Sir Sidney G. A. Shippard, G.C.M.G. — Before we separate I will 

 ask you to join in what I am sure we shall all regard with pleasure, 

 and that is a vote of thanks to our venerable President, who has, 

 at great inconvenience to himself, come forward to indicate once 

 more his great devotion to science and his deep interest in this 

 Institute by presiding upon this occasion. We have in Sir Gabiiel 

 Stokes one of the greatest lights of the present day, and I rejoice 

 to see him here, and I hope for many years he will be spared 

 to prosecute his labours and to preside over this Institute. 

 (Applause.) 



Captain E. W. Creak, R.N^., F.R.S.^ — ^I have tiie great pleasure 

 of seconding this resolution, and am sura you will all accord your 

 thanks with acclamation. 



Carried nem. con. 



The President (Sir G. Gabriel Stokes, Bart., F.R.S.). — I thank 

 you much for the great kindness with which you have spoken of 

 myself. It aifords me much satisfaction to find that I have been 

 successful in persuading my old friend Lord Kelvin to give the 

 Address on this occasion, to which we have just listened with so 

 much interest. 



The meeting is now concluded, and with it the present session, 

 and I hope that next session we shall again resume our labours. 



