40 
REPORT of the PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE and 
COUNCIL of the VICTORIA INSTITUTE, or 
Philosophical Society of Great Britain. 
Founding of the Society . 
1. Your Committee beg leave to advert very briefly to the 
origin of the Victoria Institute. On May 24th, 1865, a prm e 
Circular, which has now been in every member s hands was 
sent to the newspapers and distributed to various individuals, 
proposing to found a new Philosophical Society, for the P“‘ 
pose of defending Revealed Truth from unwarranted attacks 
made upon it in the name of Science. The response o is 
appeal was so hearty and immediate, that the author of t 
Ear and the friends with whom he had previously con- 
sulted were induced, so early as the 10th of June, 1SS "® 
second circular, addressed to those who had signified their 
approval of the founding of the proposed Soeiety, or their desire 
to co-operate in its formation, requesting them to attend a pie 
liminary meeting on June 16th, to consult together as to the basis 
upon which the new Society should be founded. At this meeting 
the Earl of Shaftesbury presided; and certain resolutions 
having been agreed to respecting the objects of the new 
Society they were referred to a sub-committee, consisting o 
the Rev. Drhtobinson Thornton, the" Rev. A. Pe La Mare, 
Captain Pishbourne, R.N., C.B., Captain Francis W. H. Petrie, 
and Mr. Reddie (with power to add to their number) ; w 
were desired to report thereon, and on other matters, to a 
subsequent meeting, which was held on Thursday, June 22n . 
At this meeting the Objects of the Society, terms of membei- 
ship, &c., as recommended by the Committee, were agreed 
upon, and the result was made known m a printed Circulai 
(§■0.4) dated July, 1865, inviting Vice-Patrons, Members, and 
Associates to join the Society for the purposes and upon the 
terms therein set forth. , ■. • a 
2. The Committee above referred to added other membeis 
to their number from time to time, and was the nucleus ot your 
present Committee, as now organized into the .Provisional 
