24 [Proc. B.N.F.C, 



will be creditable to our commercial wealth and national hospi- 

 tality. Mr. Gray also reported his visits to several museums in 

 Bradford, Leeds, York, Whitby, Richmond, and Scarborough, and 

 detailed the hints he received for the improvement of our local 

 Museum. 



On the ioth December, a paper was contributed by Mr. George 

 Langtry, entitled "Thoughts on Progressive Development," 

 which, owing to the unavoidable absence of the writer, was read 

 by Mr. Wm. Hancock. 



After some preliminary remarks, the writer proceeded to show 

 the great care which should be exercised in drawing correct conclu- 

 sions from observed facts. He proved how often incorrect, analogi- 

 cal reasoning is ; and quoted the very forcible remark of Mr. 

 Johnston : — " He who will determine against that which he knows, 

 because there may be something which he knows not ; he who can 

 set hypothetic possibility against acknowledged certainty; is not to 

 be admitted amongst reasonable beings." 



He then went on to say : — I must freely confess that were I simi- 

 larly situated with Mr. Darwin, I should have no hesitation in believ- 

 ing and holding the same opinions as he does ; but, although I have 

 for several years given his theory my careful and thoughtful con- 

 sideration, yet I am not, on the evidence already adduced, pre- 

 pared to accept it in globo. Be it understood, I do not refuse it 

 credence on account of its seeming antipathy to scripture, for I do 

 not believe such really exists. I will take, what Mr. Darwin admits, 

 a Creator— necessarily a divine one (which no one, I think, 

 who is acquainted with the latest investigations of Beale, Schwann, 

 and others, will deny), and I say, once we admit the existence 

 of this Creator, it matters not whether creation has been carried 

 on by evolution, or by separate and distinct creative acts. Yea, I 

 rather consider the evolution theory the most wonderful of the two, 

 and it would bring about, what we generally see in nature, a smooth 



