PEEFACE. 
rj^HE Sixteenth Volume of the Journal of the Transactions 
of the Yictoeia Institute is now issued. It contains 
papers by the following authors : — Professor Lionel S. Beale, 
F.K.S., criticises the doctrine now entertained and widely 
taught by some scientific authorities — that life is, after all, only 
a form or mode of ordinary energy or motion. His purpose 
appears to be to show that this doctrine cannot be sustained by 
facts or arguments, observation or experiment, but rests on 
assertion only ; while he holds that the views concerning the 
nature and origin of life, comprised in the Evolution hypothesis , 
are not scientifically tenable. In a second paper his aim is to 
show that the New Materialism is unscientific and opposed 
to reason, contradicted by many facts of nature, and inju- 
rious to the progress of Truth. Mr. T. K. Callaed, F.G.S., 
and Mr. N. Whitley, C.E., contribute interesting Greological 
papers. The Kev. W. D. Geound gives two careful papers on 
Mr. Herbert Spencer^s philosophy. Mr. J. Hassell examines 
the grounds of HaeckePs more extreme theory of Evolution. 
Mr. J. E. Howaed, F.E.S., gives a paper on ^^the Supernatural 
in Nature.^^ The Right Honourable the Lord O^NIiill ably 
deals with the question of the Credibility of the Supernatural ; 
