JOURNAL OF THE TRANSACTIONS 
OF THE 
VICTORIA INSTITUTE, 
OR 
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
ORDINARY MEETING, May 7, 1877. 
C. Brooke, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed, and the follow- 
ing elections were announced : — 
Member : — R. W. Bradford, Esq., Sutton. 
Associates : — Rev. T. R. Robinson, D.D., F.R.S., F.R.A.S., M.R.I.A., 
Director of the Observatory, Armagh ; Rev. Canon C. Lane, M.A., 
Sevenoaks ; Rev. A. G. Pemberton, M.A., London ; Rev. P. D. La 
Touche, M.A., Ireland ; M. R. Butler, Esq., London ; J. L. Palmer, 
Esq.. R.N., F.R.C.S., F.S.A., &c., Birkenhead. 
Also the presentation of the following Works for the Library : — 
“ Proceedings of the Royal United Service Institution,” Parts 89 and 90. 
From the Institution. 
“ Proceedings of the Smithsonian Institution.” From the Institution. 
“Proceedings of the United States Geological and Geographical Survey,” 
Bulletin 4 ; and on the Grotto Geyser. From the Survey. 
Smaller works from M. R. Butler, Esq., and Rev. G. D. Copeland. 
The following paper was then read by the Rev. J. L. Challis, M.A., the 
author being unavoidably absent : — 
ON THE INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF MATTER. By the 
Rev. Professor Challis, M.A., F.R.S., F.R.A.S., Plumian 
Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy in 
the University of Cambridge. 
I N the title prefixed to this essay I have adopted an ex- 
pression, the current signification of whicli is, that no 
existing particle of matter ever will be or can be destroyed. 
VOL. XII. B 
