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PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF NEW
SOUTH WALES.
LAST evening, the normal monthly meeting of this society
was held in the Australian Library, Bent-street. Sir
John Young occupied the chair.
Profeesor Smith, M.D., produced number of "ancient
instruments found at Abervllle," and gave an elaborate
oral description of them, pointing out the deductions
Slr Charles Lyell end other geologists had drawn from
facts connected with them. He observed that those
stone hatchets, such as were used by the aborigines of
this country, that been found in England, In various parts
of Europe, and in the islands ot the
Pacific, several of which he produced ; among
these were some obtained from the Rev.
W. B. Clarke and Mr. Gregory. Recently consider-
able attention had been paid this subject by geologists
in consequence of the discoveries made in Denmark
where it was found that in the nader stratum of the
earth implements of this kind were found, but inferior to
those in use by the aborigines of the present age. It
was found that in this nether strata fir trees had existed;
in the strata above that the oak was found, but the fir
had become extinct. Above that and on the surface
beech, the timber growing there still, was found, while
these previously met with had become extinct. With
each kind of timber different kinds of hatchets were dis-
covered, which led to the belief that there had been three
periods of human existence, the first corresponding
with the fir, when the rudest materials were
used, was called the stone period; the second
corresponding with the oak, the bronze period;
the Iast corresponding with the beech which continues to
the present time was called the iron period. The great
duration of each period might be inferred from the fact
that during the time of the Romans beech was growing in
Denmark, and it was growing lhere still. The inference
deducible from this was that the age of the world must
be greater than that usually assigned to it by chronolo-
gists. 6000 years were not enough to produce those
changes. In support of the view he referred to the fact
that it was found that the accumulation of alluvium on
the Nile was five inches in a century. In digging at the
temple of Pathah, at Memphis, at the depth of 50? feet
the excavators came on different strata where human
remains were found and the remains of human industry.
The temple of Palhah was known to have been built
4500 years ago.The Romans thought that at that
time no burnt bricks were used, but it was known by
these excavations that pottery had been in use before the
foundation of that temple was laid, for under it were the
foundations of other temples, which showed to him con-
clusively that the common chronology was not long
enough. The conclusions arrived at by Slr Charles
Lyall were, that there was a gap between the present
period, and that wh eb preeedtd it-ttie latter baringa
rice ol human telega interior to tba present race. It
wee tba general opiaion among geologists that animals
existed long b.fore the haman tacr. But it wes now
lound tl al with the fossil remains of extinct animals
(whtob led to tba» belief) human remains wuro abo
found. Hs then presented a drafting ol a haman jaw
bone, that waa fou-id in connection with fossils, and alio
drew a-diagram on tba blackboard representing Ibo
Talley ot the Soama where eoisidersble qoamitle« olthoto
inda hs'Obets wera foond. Bot an objection was
raided to tba vaina of this diBOOtery, for wben the raine
ol t^ose fossil implement« beeame-known by the work-
men, they bsd spurious onea manufactured. There was
in addition io this objoolion the feet that, with the human
ak all < dog op tnere waa found aleo considérable quin i
lies of organia matter adhering. That did not in bis
view affect tbe possible antiquity of these haman,
remain*,' for when they «tere promoted from tbe action.'
ol the air," they were sa if hermetically sealed, and there-
fore their preservation might be »«elly aaaounled fat.
These sholls wsrs not foand in eave"; bot in the came
"strata with tba banes of extinct animale formerly sup
posed j to ; have lived anterior to tba ptriod
of bunao eiistenoe. It was therefore evident they
oWt add a few more thousands of years to tb«
reeognlsed chronology. Orthodox people had differed
respecting the Biblical chronology. But suppose it
went beyond this period, the Bible did not prohibit the
belief that a race of human beings had existed long
before the present race. There was a gap between the
two, respecting which nothing could be determined.
Further discoveries would probably enable them to do
that, but of the existence of previous extinct race there
was but little doubt.
The CHAIRMAN observed that according to the
sdthoiitiea qouiut), 14.000 veste nuit bave elapsed
liege tbe dat - cf ibo temple under that of Palbab.
Professor fuira said lt woald be that bat tbere might
bs some exaggeration.
The Rev. W. B. CLARKE ssid be would hsve no objec-
tion to admit an extension to their chronologv, bat as it.
aaa intended to support tbs eon'slnston that their
¿xisled previous inferior races graduating to the monkei
orgsriilB.be could. not assent tilt. Tba argumerts
sd laced br Ibe antboritiee alluded to did not'prove the
existe' re of an iulerior raoo. Tho implemeu'a prodaoeo
.iud thrso said lo have bien discovered with the remains
ul tx inot entrails were not sufiloient tJ prove the
jL"~ I."."" !' -If l l I < V-~ - i ij-.L'_yH
: eiiatrnee or an inferior laee previous to Jbe exiftenoe of
j foe prai.it f.
Mr./aillos WISE a«w oo;bfri-g( «n''be'j'eignmant»
respecting tbs rennin s loan I ia tua alla? om deposits,
irwin knoia ih|i on tba Derljng Downs, bp|e», ofle
bnodrrd feet deep, were mads by ona-:flood »nd Ailed op
br snotber,
Ader some (mtier remarks from Prefessor Sunn and.
Mr. STEPHEN, !
Mr. KREFFT observad tbat in sinking' for the founda-
tion of the Penrith bridge over the tfepesn, ironbark
treas in good preservation were found seront j-feet deep,
auder beda of »ravel and atone*.
Mr. Justioe WISE suggested tbs propriety of making
application ti the Saoretaiy for Works to issaa intt no-
tions to the contrastara on ibe .railway lines to pre-
serve aoything'n efal to soienee t -ey might- meet witb
in their ezrera'iuns. 1. ? ?
The CHAIRMAN approved of-tba sogge>t;o»,-and
directed toe committee to prepare an application. The
a ibjeot then dropped ; I .,<.
Mr, KREFFT pmdueed and .reid a panax, de«ciir¿
liv* ol a new species of flab found in the Nepean and
tue Hawkesbury riv.ets. lt ia very, like, if ott .the. esme,
ss that oalled the mallet ly the «ediert.:i
On the mo'ion . of C. BOÏXBBI .st, Esq... a freie raf
thanks was given to Professor Smith and Mr Kctfft,. .
Thf m n'ing thpo sepatated.
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