JOURNAL OF THE TRANSACTIONS 
OF THE 
VICTORIA INSTITUTE, 
OR 
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OP GREAT BRITAIN. 
First General Meeting of the Members and Associates of 
the Institute, held on 24 th May , 1866 — Her Majesty’s, 
Birthday and the Anniversary- of the Society’s Found- 
ation, — at 32, Sachville Street, London, W. 
The Right Honourable the Earl oe Shaftesbury, K.G., 
President, in the Chair. 
The Noble Chairman stated, that this being the First Meeting of the 
Members and Associates who had united to form the Victoria Institute, there 
were no previous Minutes to be read. He had much pleasure in taking the 
Chair on the present occasion, and in seeing so large a meeting assembled for 
the purpose of formally inaugurating a Society, the importance of which, he 
thought, could scarcely be over-estimated, the founding of which was only pro- 
posed a year ago, and agreed upon at a meeting held in that room, on 
16th J une, 1865, consisting of scarcely more than twelve of the present members 
of the Society, which now numbered nearly two hundred. It would be un- 
necessary for him to make any observations with respect to the objects for 
which it was established, as they would be fully explained in the inaugural 
address, which would be read that evening by the Rev. Mr. Mitchell. (Hear, 
hear.) He rejoiced to learn, from the number of members who had already 
joined, that the Society promised to be attended with the greatest success, 
and without any further preface he would call upon the honorary secretary to 
read the report of the Provisional Committee and Council. 
Mr. Reddie (Hon. Secretary), then read the following Report of the Pro- 
visional Council 
D 
