Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-07-25
The Tendency of Scientific Inquiry.

Sir Henry Barkly, G. G. M. G., F. R.
s.. took the chair at the annual meeting OF
the Victoria (PhilosophicaD Institute, at 7,
Adelphi Terrace, London, in the last week
in June. The honorary secretary, Captain
f. Petrie, +. r. S. l., read the report by
which it appeared that the institute
founded to investigate all questions of
philosophy and science, and more espe-
cially any alleged to initiate against the
truth of revelation, had now risen to
l ,O2O members, of whom about one.third
were foreign, colonial, and American,
and new applications to join were constant
" 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 careful analysis had
been undertaken by Professor Stokes, F.
r. S., Sir j. r. Bennett, Vice. Pres. r. S.
Professor Beale, F. Il. S, and others, of
the various theories of evolution, and it
was reported that, as yet, no scientific
evidence had been met with giving coun-
tenance to the theory that man had been
evolved from lower order in animals;
and Professor Virchow had declared that
there was complete absence OF any fossil
type of lower stage in the development
Of man; and that any positive advance in
the province of prehistoric anthropology
has actually removed us further from
proofs of such connection, with
the rest of the animal kingdom. In this,
Professor Barrande, the great palmontolo-
gist, had concurred, declaring that in
none of his investigations had he found
any one fossil species develope into an
other. In fact, il would seem that no
scientific man had yet discovered link
between man and the ape, between fis h
and frog, or between the vertebrate and
the inveterate animals further, there was
no evidence of any one species, fossil or
other, losing its peculiar characteristics to
acquire new ones belonging to other spe,
cies; for instance, however similar the
dog 10 the wolf, there was no connecting
| link, and among extinct species the same
was the case; there was no gradual pas
sage from one to another. Moreover, the
first animals that existed on the earth
were by no means to be considered as
inferior or degraded.
Among other investigations, one into
the truth of the argument from design in
nature had been carried on, and had
hitherto tended to fully confirm that doc
trine. The question of the Assyrian
inscriptions and the recent Babylonan
researches had been under the leadership
of Mr. Hormuzd Rassam. who, on his
arrival from Nineveh, had given full
report of the extent of his new excava-
tons, which were of the highest interest.
His discovery of Sepharvaim, one of the
first cities mentioned in Holy Writ, was
most important. Professor Delitsch and
others aided in the consideration of the
discoveries and the inscriptions found.
Two meetings had been held to consider
the questions raised in Mr.. Herbert Spen.
GERS philosophy, and Lord O'neil and
others had shown, by careful analysis of
his arguments, that greater attention to
accuracy in statement would have kept
Mr.. Spencer from, arriving at those hasty
conclusions which had made his philosophy
remarkable. 1t was announced that the
results of explorations now being carried
on in Egypt would be laid before the
institute early in the winter. The discov-
cries were very important, especially that
of the site of Succolh, which, like the
results of the survey of Palestine, was
contirmatory of the sacred record. The
quarterly Journal which has been pub,
lshed for sixteen years, was now issued
free oall members and associates, whether
at home or abroad. Several interesting
speeches having been made, the members
and their friends adjourned to the museum,
where refreshments were served.