value to the treatment of the several subjects beyond that which any individual author could give.

9. Spread of the Work and Useful Influence of the Institute. Not many years ago the issue of the Annual Volume was considered to complete the work of the Institute, but of late the wish to make further use of the matter it contains has had valuable results:

First;-Members and Associates at home, in India, and elsewhere, make use of the papers in the Journal as lectures, or as the basis of such, in their several localities.

Secondly;-Some Members and Associates secure the translation and circulation of portions of the Journal in the various countries in which they reside. Such translations have been made in many countries of Europe, South America, and India; and now from China and Japan, the importance of securing translations has been strongly urged.

Thirdly;-Some home, foreign, and colonial public libraries and institutions are regular purchasers of the Journal, and Members and Associates have sought to encourage this practice in their respective localities. The need of so doing has been pointed out by many Members, since it is by no means unusual, especially in the Colonies, to find in public libraries books arguing that Science and Revelation are at variance. The Journal of the Institute has been spoken of as specially suited as a corrective to such erroneous views. In India and elsewhere some have obtained the Journal or copies of the People's Edition, and placed them in local reading rooms for the use of English-speaking natives and others.

10. Accession of King Edward VII.

The Council of the Institute was not less desirous than other learned Societies to testify its sorrow upon the death of our late Queen, and to offer to His Majesty Edward VII the assurance of devotion and loyalty to the Crown and Person of His Majesty. In accordance with this desire a dutiful and loyal address to the King was adopted at the meeting of the Council on Monday, 4th February, and afterwards read at the meeting of Members and Associates by the President; and forwarded through the Home Secretary to His Majesty, by whom a gracious reply was returned, which was read from the Chair at the meeting held on April 1st in the rooms of the Institute.

11. The People's Edition.

This consists of twelve papers-written by men of eminence in such a style that they may be comprehended by all-reprinted from the Journal of Transactions. The Edition was started by some Members in the year 1873, and first attracted attention in other quarters to the importance and need of works of the kind. The pamphlets often contain the objections and criticisms brought forward in discussing the subjects, as many home and foreign correspondents have urged the value of including these. They are published in neat covers, and are sold at a nominal price (sixpence), and single copies are supplied gratuitously or at cost price, at the office, to all individual lecturers against infidelity, including those of the London City Mission, the Christian Evidence Society, and similar bodies.

12. The Gunning Fund.

This fund was founded by His Excellency Robert Halliday Gunning, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S.E., etc. It at first consisted of a bond of £500, the interest on which was paid by Dr. Gunning to further the work of the Institute. The Executors have now paid the money to the Trustees of the Institute; and the amount is lodged with the bank on deposit receipt pending its investment. A Sub-Committee has been nominated by the Council for the purpose of drawing up a scheme for founding "a triennial prize," in accordance with the will of the founder, and in harmony with the constitution of the Institute;-a matter which will require careful consideration, and which may not be definitely arranged for some time.

13. Conclusion.

In conclusion the Council desires to express its thankfulness for the success thus far of the Institute.

The importance of its work has been recognized by loyal support from its Members in all lands. They realise that an Institute conducted by such men as the President of the Institute (Sir G. G. Stokes), the Lord High Chancellor of England (Earl of Halsbury), Lord Kelvin, and other leaders of thought, devoting their time voluntarily to carrying on the Institute's work, is one which is potent for good results in banishing that spirit of unbelief which has professed to be founded on science. G. G. STOKES.

Consols.

There is a reserve fund of £1,165 18s. 9d. New 2

Rev. Dr. IRVINE, F.G.S.-Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen: By accident your Secretary has requested me to move the adoption of this admirable Report since I came into the room. I suppose he fixed on me by a kind of instinct of fraternity. We have together, in former years, hammered the rocks-especially in the sunny south-west of that glorious county of Devonshire. So I cannot, for a moment, hesitate to accept that responsibility which your Secretary wished to thrust upon me. Not that I feel that that responsibility is a great one, because no advocacy is required, I think, to recommend this Report to the minds of all present, and to all who are interested in this Institute and the noble work it is carrying on. I look upon this Institute as something unique. It is a learned Society and something more. It is, as it were, a nucleus for the fraternization of all learned Societies and for all those engaged in learning-not scientific only, but literary and historical, and everything which tends to throw light on progress and the welfare of the human family; and to elucidate the beneficent workings of Divine providence. So I am sorry to see one statement in the Report, which announces the loss of so many clerical members of the Institute. Let us hope it will be only a temporary relapse, for I think the Institute has done in this way somewhat of the work which the great Oxford Reformers did for us when they advocated greater learning, a wider range of studies and a severer intellectual discipline for the clergy of the Church of this country. Therefore I have very great pleasure, and I count it a great honour to be called upon, to move the adoption of this Report.

The Ven. Archdeacon THORNTON, D.D.-Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen: A long speech is not wanted in seconding the resolution which has been proposed to you. The Report which has been read to us, or partially read to us, appears to be a satisfactory one, and shows that while the Institute is doing its work in various departments of science, it is possible to be deeply scientific and at the same time deeply religious.

I sincerely hope, if the number of Members and persons interested in the Institute be raised to the round "one thousand," which the Secretary expressed his hope it would be, that this difficulty will be removed and that the £200 which has been taken away from the reserve fund will be replaced by £300. I beg to second the adoption of the resolution.

The PRESIDENT.-Before putting this motion, I will just make one remark. Although it would appear from the balance sheet as if we had been rather going down hill, it is more in appearance than in reality. I think our late Treasurer, who is to be replaced by another to-day, will be able to say a word or two in explanation of that.

The SECRETARY.-In the absence of the new Treasurer I may state what the President has said is quite correct. The actual income has not been less than last year-possibly a little more : but it would be impossible to go into details on the present occasion.

The PRESIDENT.-Before I put this to the vote I may remark that some of the officers of the Society have been changed, i.e., new names have been introduced, viz.-Sir T. Fowell Buxton, Bart., and Professor Lionel Beale as Vice-Presidents. There are three new members of Council-E. S. M. Perowne, Esq., Martin L. Rouse, Esq., and the Rev. R. A. Bullen.

According to the rules of the Association the Anniversary Meeting is the proper time for the election of officers.

The motion is that the Report of the Council now read be received and adopted and circulated amongst the Members and Associates.

The resolution, having been put to the meeting, was carried

nem. con.

I will now call on Dr. Clapton to move the next resolution.

Dr. CLAPTON, F.L.S.-I beg to move that the thanks of the Members and Associates be presented to the Council, the Hon. Officers and Auditors for their important services during the past year. I am sure that those who have attended the meetings this year will heartily support this resolution, which I have much pleasure in moving.

Professor ORCHARD.-I have very much pleasure in seconding that resolution. It requires no seconding, because the Council and officers are really the people who have brought this Institute to its present state of efficiency.

The PRESIDENT then put the resolution, which was carried unanimously. He then called on Sir Robert Ball, LL.D., F.R.S., Lowndean Professor of Astronomy in the University of Cambridge, to deliver the Annual Address, "The Origin of New Stars."