Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-07-20
The Tendency of Scientific
Inquiry.

Sir Henry Barkly, GONG,
F.K.S., took the chair at the annual
meeting of the Victoria (Philosophi-
cal) Institute, at Z, Adelphi Terrace,
London, in the last week in June. The
Honorary Secretary, Captain F. Pc
trie, F.R.S.L., read the report, by
which it appeared that the Institute
founded to investigate all questions of
philosophy and science, and especi-
ally any alleged to initiate against the
truth Of Revelation-had now risen
TO 1920 members, of whom about one
third we're foreign, Colonial and
American, and new applications to
Join were constantly coming in. An
increasing number Of leading men Of
science had Joined its ranks, and men
of science, whether in its ranks,
or not, cO-operated in its work. During
the session a careful analysis had
been undertaken by Professor Stokes,
Y.R.S., Sir j. r. Bennett, Vices
President r. &, Professor Beale, +. R.
s.. aud others, of the various theories
Articulation, aud it was reported that
as vet no scientific evidence had been
met with giving cOuntenance to the
theory that man had been evolved
from lower order in animals; and
Professor Virchow had declared that
there was a complete absence of any
fossil type of lower stage in the do
velopment Of man; and that any posi-
tive advance in the province oil prehis:
toric anthropology has actually re-
moved us further from prO0fs of such
conuections,-namely, with the rest Of
the animal kingdom. In this Pro.
fessor Barrande, the great peleontOl-
ogist, had eoncurred, declaring that in
none of his Investigations had he found
any one fossil species develop int
another. In fact, IL would seem that
no scientific man had yet discovered
link between man and the ape, be-
tween FISH aud frog, or between the VeS.
tebrate and the inVertebrate animals
further, there was no evidence Of any
one species, fossil or other, losing its
peculiar characteristics 10 acquire new
ones belonging to other species, fol
instance, however similar the dog h
the volt, there was no connecting link
and among extinct species the sam
vas the case, there was no gradua
passage from one 10 another. More
over, the first animals that existed Of
the earth were by no meshs TO be con
sldered ss inferior or DEGRADED
Among other investigations, one int
the truth of the argument from De
sign in Nature had been carried on
aud had hitherto tended to confrr
that doctrine. The question Of tn
Assyrian inscriptions and the Baby
loniau researches had been under tn
Leadership Of Mr.. Hormuzd Rassau
who, on his arrival from Ninevah, ha
given full report OF the extent
his new excavations, which we're {
the highest interest. His discover
Of Sepharvaim, one Of the first citit
mentioned in the Holy Writ, was mo
important. Professor Delitek an
others aided in the consideration Of Il
discoveries and the inscriptions foun
Two meetings had been held to col
slider the questions raised In N
Herbert Spencer's Philosophy, 90
Lord 0'Neill sod others had show
by careful analysis Of his argument
that great attention 70 accuracy
statement would have kept DIR. Spel
Ger from arriving at those hasty eOl
illusions which had made his phil
sophy remarkable. 1t was announot
that the results Of explorations nc
being carried on in Egypt would
laid before the Institute early in Il
winter. The discoveries we're Ve
important, especially that Of the 81
of Suecoth. which, like the results
the survey Of Palestine, was confirm
tory of the Sacred Record The qus
terly Journal, which had been pu
lished for sixteen years. was now
sued free TO all members and ASSOC
ates, whether at home or sbToa
Several interesting speeches havil
been made, the members and th'
friends adjourned to the Museul
Thars refreshments we're served.