294 
ORDINARY MEETING, May 17, 1869. 
The Rev. W. Mitchell, M.A., Vice-President, in the 
Chair. 
The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed. 
The Rev. Mr. Garbett read the following paper : — 
THE RESPECTIVE PROVINCES OF THE OBSERVER 
AND THE REAS ONER IN SCIENTIFIC INVESTI- 
GATION. — By the Rev. Edward Garbett, M.A., Mem. 
Viet. Inst. 
I SUGGEST the subject of my paper this evening as a 
trifling contribution towards the third object stated in 
the programme of the Victoria Institute, “ To consider the 
mutual bearings of the various scientific conclusions arrived 
at in the several distinct branches into which science is now 
divided, in order to get rid of contradictions and conflicting 
hypotheses.” A slight extension of the meaning of these 
words will include the object I propose to myself to-day. 
Eor, strictly speaking, scientific conclusions, to whatever 
branch of inquiry they may belong, can never contradict 
themselves or each other, or stand in need of mutual ad- 
justment. It is only when from conclusions we pass to 
hypotheses, that we find contradiction and conflict. The 
diversity is with science ; for just so far as diversity exists, 
error exists somewhat. In science, properly so called, there 
can be no error, but it is in the various opinions held on the 
subjects of science, and yet more among different sections of 
men of science, especially in regard to the bearing of their 
particular branch of inquiry upon the province of religion. 
In proportion as science does its work, the diversity must 
diminish, and could we suppose the work ever to be com- 
pleted, it would entirely disappear. 
The parties to these disputes may be divided into three 
classes. At one end stand men of science who respect the 
Bible and its teaching, and who hold the results of science to 
be totally inconsistent alike with its historical credibility and 
