385 
century. I have received similar testimony from Principal Dawson, F.R.S., 
ol McGill College, Montreal, and he adds that he does not think we can 
assign that extreme age to the human race which some claim for it. 
Mr. Howard. — I will, in the first place, take up the remark of the Rev. 
Prebendary Row, — that I have proved nothing. I think that, at all events, 
I have proved this much, that it was quite time the subject was brought 
before the V ictoria Institute, so that we might keep ourselves au 
courant with recent discoveries. As to the chronology of the Bible, I 
have nowhere asserted the received to be the true chronology. I think 
it is not a good habit of mind to come to the investigation of difficult 
questions with a preconceived opinion. What I set myself to do was, 
not to dogmatize but to investigate. In reference to what Dr. Currey 
has said with regard to the progress of civilization, I may say that I 
have not given any intimation of my opinion as to the length of time 
which Egyptian civilization took for its development. I know that we 
are tolerably clear about the 18th and 19th dynasties, and about the 
12th there is not so very much doubt ; but when we get beyond that 
the case is altogether different. It is believed by competent authori- 
ties that there are indications in the pyramid of certain positions of the 
heavenly bodies ; if these really be correct data, we shall have to revise the 
supposed antiquity of the earlier dynasties, and the era of the Pyramids 
will bo brought to within a few hundred years of the time of Abraham. In 
reference to Mr. Warleigh’s idea that Egypt may have existed several 
hundreds of thousands of years, or that there may have been many 
races of mankind before Adam was created, such speculations, if suited 
for discussion, can, at all events, have no reference to the history of Egypt 
since the time of Menes, which runs parallel with Chaldean history, and also 
with that of other adjoining countries ; I therefore think that we had better 
not go back to pre-Adamite disquisition, for we have quite enough before 
us this evening in the history of Egypt since the time of the preservation of 
something like authentic records. 
The meeting was then adjourned. 
