RER Au 
THE CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS, 45 
deeply regret to day—the Dean of Westminster—that 
prineiple is as little applicable to the christian as to the 
philosopher. It is therefore more for the purpose of ex- 
pressing the interest I feel in the objects of your society, 
than from a hope or intention of adding anything to your 
information, that I venture to make any remarks at all be- 
fore you to day—but dead, indeed, should I be to all that 
is wonderful in nature, or beautiful in art, if I could dwell 
amid the caves of the Mendip, and the ruins of Glaston- 
bury, and the still-perfect glories of my own cathedral, and 
I may add, the beautiful remains of human skill and archi- 
tectural proportion within the walls of my own palace, 
without feeling that the archaeology of nature and of art 
had claims, if not upon my studies, at least on my interests 
and affeetions. Still, I feel sure that there is no one bere 
who would wish me to view these subjects otherwise than 
as subsidiary to that greatest of all wisdom to which 
my spiritual office mainly directs me; and I would wish 
you, in like manner, to remember all along, (what indeed 
the character of my ohservations will of itself remind you 
of,) that it is not a professor or a savant, but your Bishop 
who speaks to you. The time, I trust, is come, when it is 
as unnecessary to defend the pursuit of Natural History 
from the imputation of irreligion, as the study of antiquity 
from a tendency to trifling and superstition. Still, there 
may even now be evils, into which a too exclusive devotion 
to either study may lead its votaries, and which it may not 
be out of place for one in my position to recall for your 
warning. Yet one chief excellence in both pursuits, I 
would first most gladly dwell on, which indeed may be 
overlooked by beginners and by those who have only a 
little learning, but which, I am convinced, is the great 
lesson to be learnt, (and which will be learnt,) by all who 
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