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rites ; ” “ The Terrestrial Changes and Probable Ages of the Continents ; ” 
“ The General Isomorphism of all Crystalline Bodies ; ” “ Geological Chrono- 
logy,” &c. Our meeting on the 6th inst. must have shown all scientific men 
that our doors are open to them to advocate their views. At this meeting 
we had Dr. Carpenter, Mr. Evans, and many others holding opposite views, 
and all were heard with equal attention. With regard to the remark that 
our Transactions are not procurable at booksellers’ shops, I may mention that 
last December a letter, with a list of our publications, was sent to every 
leading bookseller, but I shall be most happy to meet any suggestion that 
may tend to the advantage of the Institute. (Cheers.) 
The Rev. Dr. Boultbee then read the Annual Address ; — 
ANNUAL ADDRESS. 
T HE papers usually read before this Institute treat of some 
one definite subject of inquiry. The Annual Address may 
be more varied and more discursive. It may pass in review 
the work of the past year, or it may take a general survey of 
the present position ; or it may glance at the views, the expect- 
ations, the necessity, or the use of this Institute. 
To these last questions I propose to address myself. I wish 
to set forth those considerations which in my judgment justify, 
and more than justify, the existence of this Society. These 
considerations are sufficiently familiar to the Council and the 
great body of our members. But I presume we do not here 
speak to a little circle of our own ; we desire to speak to the 
world. I think we shall have no difficulty in setting forth 
such a case as may give to our Institute a very strong position 
in the eyes of our countrymen. The objects of the Institute 
have been clearly set forth in the brief paper which all 
members possess. It will suffice to recite the first of those 
objects ‘ u To investigate fully and impartially the most im- 
portant questions of philosophy and science, but more espe- 
cially those that bear upon the great truths revealed in Holy 
Scripture, with the view of reconciling any apparent discre- 
pancies between Christianity and science.” Without going 
further into the arrangements contemplated by the Society in 
its work, this one quotation sufficiently indicates a feeling of 
necessity pressing on the founders and managers of the 
Institute. It indicates a state of warfare now existing between 
a powerful section of scientific men and that which we believe 
to be God's word. They would themselves say between 
science and the Bible ; but we utterly repudiate the idea as 
VOL. VIII. G 
