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work, and upon that ground I have had great pleasure in joining this 
Institute. (Cheers.) I beg leave now to express my satisfaction at the pro- 
gress of the Institute as indicated in the report ; but it is the duty of each 
of us to do more and more to add to that progress. I hope more of our scientific 
men will come forward boldly to express their own internal convictions, which 
we know they possess, and that they will be found standing shoulder to 
shoulder, ready to throw the weight of their great influence into the scale, which 
sometimes seems almost to tremble on account of the assumed authority of 
certain other great names. We can well appeal to ancient names of very 
great weight, but there are still many modern names of great weight 
whom we would call as compurgators — to use a legal phrase — in our behalf. 
I beg to move that the Eeport which has been read be printed and circulated 
among the members. (Cheers.) 
Sir Donald M’Leod, C.B., K.C.S.I.— My Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen, 
— The proposer of this motion has already so fully explained the objects of the 
Institute, that it is quite unnecessary for me to touch upon that subject, and 
I am even a more recent adherent of this Society than he is. I am, in fact, as 
yet comparatively a stranger to England, and can only bring my experience 
in other lands to bear upon questions of this nature. That, however, I cer- 
tainly can do with great confidence in this matter. We live, as we all know, 
in a period of great mental activity. We are told in the Scriptures that in 
later times men shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase. Every- 
thing seems to indicate that we have arrived at that period of the world’s 
history. When we see men of remarkable talent taking up questions whioh 
have tended greatly to unsettle men’s minds on the most important of all 
topics, — when we see men of eminence taking up that position, it surely is 
highly incumbent on all those who apprehend the results that must ensue, 
to stand forward boldly and endeavour to counteract them. (Cheers.) That 
I take it is the object of this Institute. (Cheers.) It would be very unde- 
sirable, as I have heard elsewhere remarked, to speak with anything like 
severity, or in a tone of sneer, in regard to those who conscientiously put 
forward opinions that they have formed, but certainly it is the incumbent 
duty of all those who do not concur not to keep silence. In the land in 
which my lifetime has been spent — the great land of India — the intellect of 
the people is beginning to be aroused in a very remarkable manner. Our' 
educational institutions are having a material, and I am afraid not 
always a very beneficial effect ; and we may rest assured that if that 
intellectual development which is there largely taking place be not directed 
into wholesome channels, the day will be a day of disgrace upon, and one of 
reproach to England, when the intellectual development of India shall have 
attained to an advanced position, and the young men now being trained in 
our institutions are able to take a lead and stand apart from us, as they no 
doubt will do. (Hear, hear.) I know that in Calcutta and in our Presidency 
towns, a very large number of our youth are largely infected by the writings 
of those who do not profess our views of the Christian religion. Socinians 
and even atheists have made their way amongst them, and I was very 
