4-62 Roi/al Society. 



of the globe; and stated, that though it had been suspected 

 that the fossil remains of large animals of the Hyaena, Tiger, 

 Elephant, Rhinoceros and Hippopotamus kind, found in our 

 diluvian strata, had been the remains of animals who once in- 

 habited the countries in which they were found : yet that this 

 had never been distinctly established till Professor Buckland 

 described the cave in Yorkshire, in which several generations 

 of hyaenas mu3t have lived and died. He said tliat two theo- 

 retical views might be taken of the subject: one, that the ani- 

 mals were of a peculiar species fitted to inhabit temj^erate or 

 eold climates ; and the other, which he thought the most pro- 

 bable, that the temjjei'ature of the globe had changed. He 

 entered into some general views on this interesting subject, 

 and its connexion with the period when the globe was in a 

 chaotic state ; with the periods of the successive creations of 

 living beings and with the early revolutions of the system till 

 it had attained that degree of stability which fitted it for the 

 habitation of man, the last of created beings. 



In presenting the medal to Mr. Buckland, Sir Humphry 

 desired him to recei\e it as a tribute of respect iiom a body 

 which he believed to be very impartial in its decisions, and 

 w'hich considered the advances science had made, rather than 

 the nation, school, or individual by which they were effected. 

 He said he hoped his example would stimulate other members 

 of the Society to similar inquiries and labours ; for that geo- 

 logy was abundant in objects for i-esearch, and most worthy 

 of being pursued, on account of its connexion with the use- 

 ful arts ; — from the ha})py views it aflbrds of the order of na- 

 ture, and the assistance it lends to true religion ; and from the 

 sublime objects it presents for sjjeculation in the great monu- 

 ments of nature, marking the revolutions of the globe. 



The Society then proceeded to the election of a Council 

 and Officers for the ensuing year; when, the List being exa- 

 mined, it was found that the Council consisted of the following 

 gentlemen : 



Of the Old CotPtcil. — Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. ; William 

 Thomas Brande, Esq. ; Samuel Gooiienough, Lord Bishop of 

 Carlisle ; Taylor Combe, Esq. ; Davies Gilbert, Esq. ; Charles 

 Hatehett, Escj. ; John F. W. Herschel, Es(). ; Sir Everard 

 Home. Bart.; John Pond, Esq. Astronomer lloval; William 

 Hyde Wollaston, M.D. ; Thomas Young, M.D'. 



Of the Nc-iSO Council. — Charles Babbage, Esq.; Sir Gilbert 

 Blane, Bait. ; Charles Lord Colchester ; John Wilson Croker, 

 Esq. ; John Earl of Darnley ; Sir H. Halford, Bart. Pr. Col. 

 Phy. ; Charles Hutton, LL.D. ; Captain Henry Kater; Wil- 

 liam Hasledinc Pepys, Esq. : Joseph Sabine, Esq. 



The 



