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what I mean by calling it the younger sister of religion. The great point which this paper aims at is, to show that mankind began well. That is our fundamental doctrine as Christians. However the book of Genesis may be understood, it certainly lays down most precisely that man began well. If that position can ever be turned, and it can be shown that man began badly, or as a being evolved out of some lower form of life, with no knowledge of God or of religion at all, but that he was a creature moving about in a world halfrealized, then the position of Christianity would be turned; but I am as certain of the fact as that I am here, that this can never be shown, and that the position of Christianity is impregnable. It is my wish to set forth that as far as we can extend our researches into these early records side by side with the Bible, we find them in perfect harmony with the Biblical statements. I am exceedingly obliged to the meeting for the manner in which they have listened to my paper, and especially to Mr. James for his kindly remarks.

The meeting was then adjourned.

JOURNAL OF

THE TRANSACTIONS

OF

THE VICTORIA INSTITUTE,

OR

Philosophical Society of Great Britain.

EDITED BY THE HONORARY SECRETARY,
CAPTAIN F. W. H. PETRIE, F.R.S.L., F.G.S., &c.

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D. BOGUE, ST. MARTIN'S PLACE, TRAFALGAR SQUARE.

EDINBURGH, R. GRANT & SON. DUBLIN, G. HERBERT.

PARIS, GALIGNANI & CO.

NEW YORK, ANSON, D. F. RANDOLPH & CO.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED,

CONTENTS.-NO. LII.

JOURNAL OF THE TRANSACTIONS.

ORDINARY MEETING, MARCH 3RD

THE PRESENT STATE OF THE EVIDENCE BEARING UPON THE QUES-
TION OF THE ANTIQUITY OF MAN. BY T. Mc K. HUGHES,
M..A., WOODWARDIAN PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY, CAMBRIDGE
DISCUSSION ON THE ABOVE

Page

315

316

328

...

...

SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS THEREON FROM HIS GRACE THE DUKE
OF ARGYLL, K.G., AND OTHERS

PROFESSOR HUGHES' REPLY TO THE FOREGOING SPECIAL COMMU

340

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LIST OF THE VICE-PATRONS, MEMBERS, ASSOCIATES, ETC.

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CONTENTS OF EACH OF THE THIRTEEN VOLUMES OF THE SOCIETY'S 424

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ORDINARY MEETING, MARCH 3, 1879.

ADMIRAL E. G. FISHBOURNE, C.B., R.N., IN THE CHAIR.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the following elections were announced :—

ASSOCIATES :-G. B. Harriman, Esq., M.D., United States; Rev. P. V. M. Filleul, M.A., Weston-super-Mare.

Also the presentation of the following Works for the Library :

"Proceedings of the Royal Society."

"Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society."

From the same.

Ditto.

Ditto.

Ditto.

"Studies on the Times of Abraham." Rev. H. G. Tomkins. "Irenicon." By the Rev. H. Griffiths.

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THE PRESENT STATE OF THE EVIDENCE BEARING UPON THE QUESTION OF THE ANTIQUITY OF MAN. By T. McK. HUGHES, M.A., Woodwardian Professor of Geology, Cambridge.

THE

HE subject before us is one of very great interest. It refers to times so far removed from our own that the wild interest of an unexplored land belongs to it, and yet so near that we can entertain the possibility and indulge the hope of exploration; and when we know that man was there, our interest grows still greater, and we look at it as on a wild region into which a tribe had wandered and got lost, of whom we think we might get traces yet if we could follow.

The subject embraces a wide field of inquiry, and may be approached from many sides. Philologists are questioned about the original oneness of language, and then, on the assumption of a common origin, are asked to estimate how

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NOTE TO PROFESSOR HUGHES' PAPER.-For some years the Institute has encouraged research bearing upon the question of the Antiquity of Man," more especially because the extreme views incautiously advanced by many, tended alike to injure the cause of Science and those higher interests with which this Society has also identified itself.

Professor Hughes' very high standing as a Geologist, and his painstaking accuracy, and caution, alike fitted him to take up the subject, and the following pages were written by him after a further examination of the reported evidences of the antiquity of man. It will be seen that Professor Hughes holds that the earliest known evidences of man's antiquity are amongst the Post-glacial Gravels, the period of which is almost the latest in Geological time; those therefore who have claimed for man an extreme antiquity will find his origin brought forward through well-nigh incalculable ages. The Institute is much indebted to Professor Hughes, and also to those who have kindly discussed the subject, or sent in the after-communications, each of which is left to rest upon its own merits.

In the present state of the controversy we can only discern that cautious, accurate inquiry, and an avoidance of imperfect generalizations and hasty conclusions, will promote the cause of Truth.—ED.

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