president's address. 19 



of two gentlemen, who were requested to accept the compliment, 

 will, I am sure, meet with unqualified approval; and it gives 

 me still greater pleasure to state, that this mark of the Society's 

 approval and esteem was willingly accepted and kindly acknow- 

 ledged. They were — G. B. Airey, Esq., the Astronomer Royal, 

 and Professor Phillips. Of the valuable and elaborate investiga- 

 tions made by the former, in the vicinity of South Sliields, 

 in order to establish more extended and exact data in rela- 

 tion to the earth's density, I would have felt it incumbent on 

 me to make especial mention in some detail; but the learned 

 Professor has obviated the necessity for this, by publishing, in a 

 very clear and popular form, as much of his researches as can 

 with advantage be addressed generally to the public ; and in a 

 communication, with which I was lately favoured by him, I 

 learn that the more elaborate and detailed results of these expe- 

 riments are in course of preparation, to be laid before the Royal 

 Society of London. The learned Astronomer also favoured the 

 public with a most able and explanatory lecture at South Shields. 

 The arrangements made at Ilarton, by the colliery owners and 

 others, to facilitate the subterranean pendulum experiments, 

 appear to have given entire satisfaction to this zealous investiga- 

 tor, and to have been in conformity, alike with a zeal for science 

 and a regard for hospitality, which I trust will ever continue to 

 distinguish the North of England, and render it worthy of a 

 reputation derived from such names as Hutton, Riddle, the two 

 Stephensons, and of Airey himself — he being, I am proud to say,. 

 a native of Northumberland. 



Of Professor Phillips, I may truly say that he is not only re- 

 spected, but endeared to all lovers of science in this district who 

 have enjoyed the benefit of his instruction. With a zeal and 

 industry derived from the example and teaching of his uncle, Dr. 

 Smith, the well-known and honoured father of Geology, Professor 

 Phillips has earnestly devoted, his life to Geological Science ; and 

 those who remember his lectures, given in this Institution, or 

 who accompanied him in his Geological excursions, or, who, day 

 by day, are reminded of his valuable aid by the clear and me- 

 thodical arrangement of Mineralogical and Geological Specimens 



