62 



JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 



3. Philosophy must in its essential principles be deduced from 

 the primary data and laws of consciousness. 



The lecturer then proceeded to consider Mr. Huxley's main 

 position; namely, that as the properties of water must he con- 

 sidered as resulting from those of its chemical constituents, so the 

 phenomena of life and consciousness, exhibited in connection with 

 Protoplasm, must be regarded as the physical results of the chemical 

 properties of Protoplasm. In reply to the reasoning on which this 

 theory is founded, the lecturer argued : — 



1. That we know not what constituents living Protoplasm may 

 include ; for we are able to analyse Protoplasm only when it is 

 dead. 



2. That there is no analogy between living substance and any 

 dead chemical compound. 



3. That, between the properties of water and those of its 

 chemical constituents, there is a correspondence in nature ; whereas 

 there is an absolute incongruity between the phenomena of con- 

 sciousness and the physical properties of the chemical constituents 

 of Protoplasm. 



The lecturer then particularly examined Mr. Huxley's mode of 

 extricating himself from the slough of materialism," and showed 

 its insufficiency, and proceeded to point out some other fallacies in 

 his argument. 



A Paper will be read on the 3rd March on 



WILLIAM COWPEK, POET AND LETTEE-WEITEE. 



By Mr. E. Steane Jackson, m.a., f.g.s. 



PROGRAMME. 



Cowper's surname and christain name — Certain incidents in his 

 life which shaped his career, and modified his temperament — His 

 position as an original English poet — Characteristics of his style : 

 his pathos, satire, humour, and originality — His claims as a 

 scholar — Yincent Bourne — Passages from his Homer diligently 

 compared with former translations — His excellence as letter- writer. 



