PKEFACE. 
XI 
been made by one of the Institute’s members, Mr. Hormuzd 
Rassam. The extent and value of any inquiry, however, de- 
mands organization and that many should share in the labour 
involved. 
For some years the Institute has encouraged research 
bearing upon what is termed the question of the “ An- 
tiquity of man”;* more than one paper has been read 
upon the “ cave deposits,” &c., and much has been done to 
rid the subject of the results of hasty conclusions and false 
impi’essions ; the value of the injunction of Mr. J. Evans, 
F.R.S. (the late President of the Geological Society), to 
proceed with“ caution,” has been demonstrated in more than 
one instance ; recently, by the proceedings in the Geological 
Section of the British Association on the 16th of August, 
when Professors Bovd Dawkins and Busk withdrew certain 
1/ 
important evidence which they had advanced, and which 
had received many supporters.! 
In conclusion, a full reference to the results of scientific 
inquiry during the past year would be impossible in the small 
space allotte d to a preface, but we cannot forbear referring 
to one important result of the American observations of 
the recent total Solar Eclipse, namely — the evidence of the 
existence of at least one of the intra-Mercurial planets. 
E. PETRIE, 
Hon. Sec. and Editor. 
December 31, 1878. 
* Age of the Earth : — Chief Justice Daly, LL.D., President (for 1878) 
of the American Geographical Society, referring to this subject and a 
careful collocation thereon of the views of Astronomers, Geologists, and 
Physical Geographers, said, it was found that there was “ a wide diversity 
of opinion between them upon the question of time — a diversity so irre- 
concilable as to show that our knowledge is not yet sufficiently advanced 
to admit of any reliable theory as to the age of the Earth.” 
t With regard to the bearing of recent Geological discovery upon the 
