8 
[The Honorary Secretary (Captain F. Petrie) prefaced the report by 
a short sketch of the Society’s history, from its foundation in 1865 — when 
Mr. A. McArthur, M.P., one of its most zealous supporters, introduced 
seventy friends as members — to the year 1871, when, the Institute having 
experienced those difficulties attending many young societies, it was pro- 
posed to close its doors, as it had but 171 annual subscribing members 
and associates, and 29 life members, and upwards of £1,000 liabilities. 
He contrasted the position of the Institute then (in 1871) with its present 
position, when it boasted of upwards of 800 members and associates, not 
in London alone, but in every part of the world, and upwards of £1,000 
in the funds, and each year’s expenses were regularly paid by the year’s 
receipts ; he added that the papers alluded to in the report before the 
meeting were such as any society would prize, and many in the highest 
scientific circles now took part in the Institute’s work.] 
The Eight Hon. the Lord O’Neill. — My Lord Shaftesbury, Ladies, and 
Gentlemen, — I think it will be admitted that the report of which we have 
just heard an epitome from Captain Petrie, is, on the whole, a very satisfac- 
tory one. (Hear, hear.) The circumstances he has mentioned in regard to 
• the financial state of the Institute are, I think, very satisfactory. (Hear, 
hear.) It is, doubtless, a humiliating thing that there is no object, however 
high and heavenly, that we desire to promote in this world, which can be 
accomplished without the aid of that very low and earthly thing called 
money (laughter) ; but since it is so, it is certainly a matter of congratula- 
tion that there is upwards of £1,000 to the credit of the Institute now in 
the funds. (Hear, hear.) There is one other circumstance mentioned in 
the report which, I think, is also a matter of great satisfaction, and that is 
the success which has attended the publication of the People’s Edition of 
the Papers of the Institute. (Hear, hear.) The fact that this is circulated 
in foreign countries, and especially in India, America, and the Colonies, 
where it serves as an antidote to many pernicious publications, which are 
sown broadcast in those places, is certainly a matter for great thankfulness. 
(Applause.) I think it was mentioned in the Eeport of last year that the 
same thing very much prevailed in our own country, and that the spread of 
the People’s Edition of our Transactions among the middle and lower classes, 
as well as among the upper classes, was a matter of great importance, as it 
was among those classes in particular that works of a pernicious character 
circulated, whether in the shape of reports in newspapers or, as the Eeport 
calls them, u quasi-scientific literature.” It was also mentioned in last 
year’s Eeport that, in order to counteract the effect of such works, there 
were many persons who made the papers of this Institute the basis of 
lectures delivered in their particular localities, and I hope that that state of 
things still continues. (Hear, hear.) I regard that as a very important 
circumstance. I have now the honour of moving, u That the Eeport of the 
Council, now read, be received and adopted and circulated amongst the 
members and associates.” 
J. Bateman, Esq., F.E.S. — I have much pleasure, my lord in 
