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comfort to ourselves that the work which was begun a few years ago by our 
noble friend, under circumstances of great discouragement, which has 
required all his courage to face and carry through, — has prospered in his 
hands and yours. I beg leave to offer for your acceptance the resolution 
which I have already read. (Cheers.) 
Mr. J. E. Howard, F.R.S. — My lords, ladies, and gentlemen, I beg leave 
to second the adoption of the report. 
The resolution was agreed to. 
Mr. R. 1ST. Fowler. — In the absence of the Lord Mayor, — for I very 
much regret that he is not able to be present to testify his sense of the great 
importance of this noble institution,- — I beg to move the second resolution. 
But much as you have lost by the absence of the Lord Mayor, I possess one 
advantage that he would not have had, for I was present some years ago (not 
quite at the opening meeting, when there were only five in attendance, but 
shortly afterwards), and therefore 1 am able to bear witness to the great 
practical service of those gentlemen who are referred to in the resolution 
which I have the honour to propose. The resolution is : — That the thanks 
of the members and associates be presented to the Council and honorary 
officers for their efficient conduct of the business of the Victoria Institute 
during the past year.” Lord Harrowby has borne witness to the great pro- 
gress which this Institute has made, and it would be out of place on 
my part to add anything to his very forcible speech, but I would remind you 
that we have very much to attribute the satisfactory progress of this Insti- 
tute to the services of those who manage it. A very deep debt of gratitude 
is due to your lordship, and I cannot refrain from saying that a deep debt 
is also due to one who, in the earlier days of the Institute, took a very 
great interest in its proceedings, but who is now no more— I refer to the Rev. 
Walter Mitchell. But we must bear in mind that this Institute could not 
go on unless it had, not only an excellent president, but an excellent 
council and staff of officers. It is very much owing to their exertions that 
we stand in the position we now occupy, and I have very great pleasure in 
proposing the resolution which I have read to you. (Cheers.) 
The Ven. Archdeacon * Hessey. — I feel it to be my duty, as one who has 
taken some interest in the controversies between science, falsely so called, 
and religion, to come forward and say a few words in seconding this resolu- 
tion. The councils of all societies do deserve thanks for the faithful and 
efficient labours of the committee-room, but our Council deserve thanks 
especially, because on them rests the proper management of a society which 
holds a very peculiar and a very delicate position. It holds a province 
between opposing schools of thought, and seeks to show that science 
properly understood, and Scripture properly read, cannot be opposed to each 
other, because both come from the same Divino Author. This, then, is the 
* Nominated Archdeacon of Middlesex this day. — E d. 
