ADDRESS. Ixvii 



place at present, when their mutual affinities are in a greater measure 



Within the last twenty years much has been done towards the elucidation 

 of this problem, through the united investigations of Boussingault, of Deville, 

 and above all of Bunsen, with respect to the gases and other bodies evolved 

 from volcanos in their various phases of activity ; the results of which, how- 

 ever, do not appear to me to present anything irreconcileable with that view 

 of their causes which was put forth many years ago in the work I published. 



Whilst, however, the latter is offered as nothing more than as a conjectural 

 explanation of the phaenomenain question, I may remind those, who prefer the 

 contrary hypothesis on the ground that the oblate figure of the earth is in 

 itself a sufficient proof of its primaeval fluidity, that this condition of things 

 could only have been brought about in such materials by heat of an intensity, 

 sufficient, whilst it lasted, to annul all those combinations amongst the 

 elements which chemical affinity would have a tendency to induce, and thus 

 to render those actions to which I have ascribed the phEenomena, not only 

 conceivable, but even necessary consequences, of the cooling down of our 

 planet from its original melted condition. 



In the nearly allied Science of Geography, several important undertakings 

 have been set on foot, and some interesting discoveries made since the period 

 of our last Meeting. 



1. Dr. Kane has extended Arctic discovery, through Smith Strait, at the 

 head of Baffin Bay, to about 3 degrees nearer the Pole. 



2. Mr. Kelley has announced the result of several independent surveying 

 expeditions despatched by him to the Valley of the Atrato, with a view to the 

 formation of a great navigable channel through Central America, between the 

 Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. When Humboldt directed attention to this region 

 fifty years since, he had only uncertain reports to guide his anticipations ; and 

 these surveys have been the first to throw actual light upon this region. 



S. An expedition has been despatched to North Australia, for the purpose 

 of exploring the interior and tracing the extent of the northern watershed. 

 Its arrival at the mouth of the Victoria River has already been announced. 



4. It is pro{>osed, by the Geographical Society, to despatch an expedition 

 to Eastern Africa, to explore the extent of the inland waters known to exist 

 there, and if possible to discover the long-sought sources of the Nile. 



5. Explorations have been undertaken in the Rocky Mountains, by several 

 parties in South America, in the Pacific, and elsewhere : these, however, are 

 far too numerous to be particularly alluded to. 



Such are a few of the additions to our knowledge which have been made 

 in the course of the last twenty years in those sciences with which I am 

 most familiar. 



Whilst, however, the actual progress which has taken place in them is in 

 itself so satisfactory, the change which the sentiments of the public have 

 undergone, with respect to their claims to respect, affi)rds no less room for 

 congratulation. 



If our attention is turned to the metropolis, we see rising up around us 

 establishments for the advancement of Physical Science, of which our ances- 

 tors would scarcely have dreamed the possibility. 



I may instance the School of Mines, first placed under the management of 

 our late Associate, Sir Henry De la Beche, and now presided over bj Sir 

 Roderick Murchison, as a convincing proof of the improved feeling on such 

 subjects entertained by the Government of this country. 



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