30 ANOTTEESAEY ADDEESS. 



seen eighteen persons murdered in cold blood, and fifty taken 

 away either by force or under false pretences. 



If any one think such references too discursive for an Address 

 to the members of a Society belonging to a country on the shores 

 of the ocean on which such atrocities as have been mentioned 

 have been committed, let me explain that I have considered them 

 not altogether intrusive in a discourse to Christian gentlemen ; 

 and with one further remark I will conclude. 



It is said that Erance intends to take possession of Santa Cruz. 

 If it be so, and the intention be to civilize and christianise its 

 population, well and good : but it would, I think, be a more 

 suitable occupation if England (putting aside all political or 

 territorial considerations) undertook the task of carrying her 

 enterprise in colonization into effect by endeavouring to reclaim 

 the savages of the Archipelago^^-wMch have, by martyrdoms and 

 massacres innumerable of British subjects, given her the respon- 

 sibility as well as the prestige of furthering the cause of peace 

 and evangelization ; and I doubt not that those deaths which we 

 have deplored will eventually lead as it were to the opening of a 

 new vista in the dark prospects of Melanesian heathendom. It 

 cannot be beyond the good wishes of ourselves, who belong to a 

 Society which derives its title, by permission, from the Sovereign, 

 who is again by the will of the nation styled " Defender of the 

 Eaith," to desire that Her Majesty may enrol among her subjects 

 thousands snatched from slavery and emancipated from the 

 dominion of rites and customs that have no other support than 

 ignorance, brutality, and the worst passions of mankind. 



Society's Woek. 



The work done by the Society during the last year is repre- 

 sented by the following list of contributions : — 



May 12. — Anniversary Address, on Deep Sea Soundings, and the Q-eology of 

 New Caledonia. By Key. W. B. Clarke, M.A., F.a.S. 



June 2. — Facts in American Mining. By S. L. Bensusan, Esq. 



July 7. — On the Stanniferous Deposits of Tasmania. By S. H. Wintle, 

 Esq. [Communicated by Eey. W. B. Clarke,] 



