The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-04 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—The response to the appeal on behalf of my
poor which you were so kind as to insert at the
beginning of the Christmas season has been so
singularly generous and gratifying that I cannot
content myself with the formal acknowledgments
I have made from time to time ; and it will be a
satisfaction to my conscience to have sent you this
note, even if you should not see well to insert it.
Of the liberal gifts I have received many are
from Protestant benefactors, and some of the larger
are anonymous. Such facts speak volumes for the
charity of the British public ; its desire of mitigat-
ing the load of human misery without reference to
those religious differences which have no place, upon
true Christian principles, where extreme need is in
question ; its readiness to give liberally and in the
spirit of confidence, without, desire of human praise
or hope of earthly reward. Such views of charity
are not only Christian, but especially Catholic ; and
among the contributors to one of the charitable in-
stitutions in your list the name of a " Roman
Catholic priest " was public evidence that we reci-
procate these views of charity which allow us to
interchange kindly offices on neutral ground, where
it can be done without compromise of those truths
which a yet higher than any corporal charity obliges
us to uphold.
I have to acknowledge the following contribu-
tions :—A Catholic, £1; Captain Doyle, II
Your most obedient servant,

F. OAKELEY.
39, Duncan-terracd, Jan. 3.

Anthropological Society,

Yesterday the second uuiversary meeting of the mem-
bers of this society was 401 d at the society's rooms, 4, St.
Martin's-place ; Dr. Huff, president, in the chair.
Dr. CHARSOCK, the treasurer, read the report of the
finances, from which it appeared that the receipts amounted
to £1,696 9s. id., and at the end of the year there was a
balance of £ll5 11. s. _ _

Mr. LEE moved the adoption of the report of the council,
the heads of which were read by Mr. Collingwood.
The motion was unanimously- adopted.
Votes of thanks were passed on the retiring members of
the council, on the president and vice-presidents, and the
auditors, &c. •
The PRESIDENT then read the annual address. After
briefly referring to what had been done in the previous
year, and noticing the exertions of the secretaries, the pre-
sident stated that the objects of the society which were at
first misunderstood. were gradually unfolding themselves.
An effort would be made ,to obtain a special section in the
British Association for the discussion of anthropological
questions. If the councilqf the British Association refused
their application, they must then act for themselves, and
he recommended the members to prepare papers on the
subject. The word anthropology was at least 200,
years old, and it was used in its present scientific
sense at least since the time of Blummenbach, the
founder of the science. ,On the other hand, the word eth-
nography was not more than 50 years old, and it seemed
to be used very much in the same way as ethnology, but
neither word was clearly defined ; nor was it agreed what
branches of inquiry should be included in the so called
sciences of ethnography- and ethnology. Anthropology was
'the science of man, audit might be regarded as the study of
the human group considered in itself and in its relation to
the rest of nature. The science might be divided into three
branches :-1. Historical anthropology ; or, the history of
man on the earth. 2. Descriptive anthropology; or, a de-
scription of the existing races of man. 3. Comparative
anthropology, which embraced
,the subjects now included
in ethnology. He thought the Mends of the science should
adopt this division. The society had been the object of
much obloquy, but they could only live it down by going
on with the investigation of the truth in their own way.
With regard to the forthcoming year there were many
valuable works announced, and £94 had been subscribed
towards the establishment of a special fund to be devoted
to the society's museum and library. He hoped that at the
end of the next year the number of members would double
that which it was now, viz., 450. When that was the case
there need be no fear for the success of a society founded
for the study of the science of man. (Cheeri.)
Mr. BOLLAERT moved that the thanks of the meeting be
given to the president for his address, and that it be printed.
Mr. BEDDIE seconded the motion, which was carried neat.
con.

The PRESIDENT moved the following resolution :—" That
this meeting is of opinion that it would be advantageous to
the interests of anthropological science, that a special sec-
tion be formed in the British Association, to be devoted
especially to anthropology, and that an address to the pre-
sident and council of the British Association be prepared,
embodying the substance of this resolution."
Mr. BOLLAERT seconded the motion.

The motion was put, and carried unanimously.
Tho officers for the ensuing year were appointed by
ballot, and the proceedings terminated.

DEATH OF MRS. CHARLES TEMPEST.—We regret
to announce the death of Mrs. Charles Tempest,
daughter of Captain and Mrs. Washington Hibbert, which
took place on Monday at Bosworth Hall, Rugby, from in-
juries sustained by fire on the 21st of last month. Hopes
were at first, and for a considerable time entertained that
she would ultimately recover ; but, unfortunately, a re-
lapse having taken place on Monday, despite of every
attention of Mr. Teevan, of Chesham-street, and other
medical gentlemen, death terminated her sufferings. The
deceased lady was. born in 1844, and married in 1862 to
Charles Tempest, Esq., nephew and heir to Sir Charles
Tempest, by whom she leaves two children—one an infant
only two months old—to lament her untimely death.
During the whole of her illness to the time of her decease
she was attended by her mother With Ruxeluitting
409cticii,