290 



The committee appointed to examine the treasurer's re- 

 port, through Mr. Averill, reported that they had examined 

 his accounts and compared them with the vouchers and 

 found them correct. 



Cash on hand, Jan. 1860 $72.83 



" received from members 225.00 



$297.83 



u expended during year 220.54 



" on hand, Jan. ], 1861 77.29 



297.83 



Without further business, the Institute adjourned for two 



February 26, 1861. 



The president, Mr. Pruyn, occupied the chair. 



There being no other business, Prof. Dean proceeded to 

 read the paper for the evening, on The Baconian Philoso- 

 phy- 



He described the position of philosophy at the era when 

 Bacon wrote, its defects and errors. He stated partly in 

 Bacon's own words, the fundamental principles of the new 

 system, and the aim and object of its tendency. He pointed 

 out that it excluded from its domain the consideration of 

 God and the human mind, Bacon assuming that these be- 

 longed exclusively to the domain of faith. In this, Bacon's 

 philosophy failed, as explained by himself ; it failed to 

 connect the world of mind and matter in one whole, thus 

 creating a duality in the universe, instead of that unity 

 which must exist in it. 



The whole paper presented a distinct picture of the Ba- 

 conian philosophy, with all its powerful advantages, and 

 the decided and beneficent impulse it gave to human inven- 

 tion. 



At the close of Prof. Dean's paper, after some general 

 conversation, but without further action, adjourned. 



March 12, 1861. 

 The president, Mr. Pruyn, in the chair. The secretary 

 being absent, no minutes were read. 



