The record-union., 1894-08-11
RECENT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.
Annual Meeting of the Victoria In
stitute.
Philosophical and Scientific Subjects
Discussed by Distinguished and
Learned Men.

Especial Correspondence of RECORD -UNIoN.l
LONDON, July. A.-One of the largest
recent gatherings in London, England,
was the annual meeting of the Victoria
Institute in July. 1t was presided over
by Sir George Stokes, Bart, +. r. S.,
ex-President of the Royal Society, and
now President of the institute in ques-
ton. Many home, colonial and Ameri-
can members attended, and although the
day was most unpleasantly rainy, the
large hall of the Society OF Arts, in which
the meeting vas held, was full to over
flowing. Letters were received from the
following members expressing their ina
bility to be present: Lord Kelvin, Presi-
dent of the Royal Society; DR.. Smith, the
Primate of New South Wales; the Bishop
of Caledonia; Bishop Hale of Cairo. U. s..
A.; Professors Sayce and Prestwich; the
past President of the Geological Society,
and some others. The annual address
was given by Professor Duns, t. f. 5. B..
of Edinburgh, the subject being Arcnae-
ology and Anthropology especially as
connected with folklore and more par
ticularly stone folklore. (It was read by
the Rev. X. Il. Mcleod, the author being
unavoidably absent).
DR.. Duns commenced by explaining
the reasons for selecting such subject as
stone Folklore, one apparently of little
importance; yet as folklore was now be-
ing ranked with anthropolOgy, and stone
folklore was branch the study of which
threw some light on many facts in the
( Historical records of the world, it seemed
desirable he should give the results of his
study of one special branch, that connected
with stone folklore, which was allied
with ancient superstitions. He described
the. nature and geological character of
stones in question, the snperstitions they
were connected with, and their frequent
mention in history, even among nations
in the earliest historic times. Perhaps
none are so competent to give to the
world an exact statement of facts in re-
gard to this department of folklore as DR..
Duns, for he has made it a subject of long
study, and his collection of evidence and
examples is unique. For such an ex-
plorer to give to the world the results of
his work is not only gain, put enables
the public to avoid the danger, so often
experienced in regard TO the work Of less
accomplished men, of drawing wrong
conclusions.
His Excellency the United States En-
bassador had sent notice that he would,
if possible, be at the Institutes gathering,
but in his absence the Right Hon. Lord
Halsbury, ex-Lord High Chancellor of
England, took his place, and in moving
,he vote OF thanks for the address, highly
complimented its reader for the admira-
ble way in which he had rendered the au.
thor's work. The other speakers were
Sir Ii. Barkly, G. C. M. G., K. c.. B., T.
r. S.; Sir Joseph Fayrer, *. c. S. l., f.
r. s.; Sir George Buchanan. F. r. S.;
His Honor j. Otonba Payne, Chief Reg
2 ft,a Of +
West Africa; Surgeon General c. a. Cor
dan C. B.; Professor Hull, L. r. S.. late
Director of the Geological Survey of Ire
land, and f. Corbet of Ceylon. The
Honorary Secretary, Captain T. Petrie,
in reading the report OF the institute
whose object is TO investigate all philo-
sephical and scientific questions, includ
ing any alleged to initiate against the
truths of Revelation referred to the
value of the work recently done.
The institutes membership had in
creased the past year, among those lately