140 Geological Society. 



mav act an imoortant part in the formation and renovation 

 of soils. 



To some, savs Mr. Davy, these circumstances may ap- 

 pear too minute to be dwelt upon — but nothing^ \vhich 

 niarks inlellicrence in the ceconomy of Nature, he said, 

 should be passed over without notice. We recognise, with 

 fcelintrs of pleasure, the combinations of ingenuity in hu- 

 man inventions ; and surely the ^rand arrangements ot Na- 

 ture are worthv of our contemplation ; and if we can feel 

 sentiments of respect and obligation to the contriveis of ar- 

 tificial machinery, limited in purpose, feeble in effect, we 

 cannot refuse the higher tribute of gratitude and devotion 

 to the Author of the mechanism of the universe, where 

 tlic scheme is designed by infinite wisdom and goodness, 

 and executed by infinite power. 



Mr. Davy slated, that the chemical attractions of bodies 

 are nearly related to their electrical polarities ; the chemical 

 a<Tents which act most nowerfuUy on each other, produce the 

 iTiost striking electrical phsenomena. The powers of all Vol- 

 taic combinations appear to be, in some measure, propor- 

 tional to the chemical attractions of the acting bodies. 



Mr. Davy stated, that he had been misunderstood rela- 

 tive to the ideas he formerly advanced concerning electrical 

 and chemical attractions. Ke did not say that chemical at- 

 tractions were produced by electrical attractions, or vice 

 versa. He conceived that they may be different exhibitions 

 of the same powers of matter, in one case acting upon par- 

 ticles, and in the other upon masses. He wished, however, 

 not to attach much importance to this or any other hypo- 

 thetical notion. Hypothesis, he said, should always be in- 

 duction from experiments, and should be regarded as dan- 

 gerous and unprofitable when it does not lead to new ex- 

 periments. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The annual general meeting of tliis Society was held on 

 the 7th of February, when the following gentlemen were 

 elected as Officers and Council for the ensuing year. 



OFFICEKS. 



Presideiii. 

 George Bellas Greenougti, Esq. M.P. F.R.S. 



Fice Presidents. 

 William Babuigton, M.D. F.K.S. 

 Sir Abraham Hume, Bart. M.P. F.R. and L.S. 

 Sir John St. Auhyn, Bart. M.P. F.R.A. and L.S. 

 Robert Fergusouj Esq. F.R.S. 



Treasurers,, 



