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deeply indebted to those gentlemen, and I have very great pleasure in moving 
this resolution. 
Rev. J. B. Owen. — I have great pleasure in seconding the resolution ; and I 
feel that, unhappily, I can do so with an amount of disinterestedness that is 
no credit to me, for I do not think there is a more negligent member of the 
Council than myself. I am very much in the position of a man whom I once 
saw rise at a somewhat similar meeting to propose a vote of thanks to those 
gentlemen who had so efficiently carried on the cause which was left so exclu- 
sively to their management. He said, “ I cannot do much myself, and I have 
done but little, but I can appreciate those who do work.” (Laughter.) He 
was a candid man ; and it is well never to lose sight of a candid example, 
and therefore, as one of the useless inoperative members of the Council, I 
am placed at that distant point of vision which enables me to appreciate 
those men who have done their work ; and with much admiration and the pro- 
foundest appreciation I have much pleasure in seconding this motion. 
The resolution was unanimously agreed to. 
Mr. Reddie. — I have much pleasure in returning thanks for the kind 
manner in which the labours of Admiral Fishbourne, Mr. Mitchell, and 
myself have been acknowledged. Considering the important objects of the 
Society, about which we may all speak without any personal feeling, other 
than to express the deep interest which we are all bound to take in it, I was 
led to suppose that the Victoria Institute would become a large and vigorous 
society even sooner than it has done. At the same time, I do not undervalue 
the success we have experienced. There has, however, been some neglect in 
the way in which our business affairs have been managed ; but I believe we 
have seen the worst of that ; and I hope we have also seen the worst of the 
seeming apathy of the outside Christian public, who ought more largely to come 
to support us. It is unfortunate that Mr. Owen has not attended our meetings 
oftener ; but I hope that, after such a confession as he has made, he will 
come oftener to them in the future. You see how valuable he is when he is 
present ; for it is impossible not to feel that he can make the best of even a 
bad condition of things ! I feel that our thanks are especially due to Admiral 
Fishbourne, our Hon. Treasurer, who has just retired, not from any loss of 
interest in the Society, for he was one of the first to whom I mentioned the 
idea of this Institute, and he has co-operated with me in the most valuable 
manner throughout. During the past year, however, he has been a great deal 
absent from England, on account of the unfortunate ill-health of his daughter ; 
and it was with great reluctance that he and we came to the conclusion that 
we should have some one in England to attend to the affairs of the Society, 
and that his name must therefore cease to be upon our list as Hon. Treasurer. 
But I am happy to say that it will still remain as a member of the Council ; 
and I hope that before long — before our Sessions recommence — he will be 
with us again as usual. Again I thank you for this resolution. It is a great 
pleasure to me, and I regard it also as a great privilege to do what I can for 
the Society ; and if I could only see our members doubled, trebled, or 
even decupled, I should be truly delighted. (Hear, hear.) 
