Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 147 



Jamaica, and with such copious and judicious references to the 

 authentic records of the elevation of Thera, Therasia, and other 

 volcanic islands, that the essence and leading features of much that 

 has been written since, on the theory of elevation and disturbance 

 by subterranean vapours, have been anticipated by Ray. His re- 

 marks on the Structure of Mountains as containing and affording 

 access to metallic veins ; their influence on climate, and use in col- 

 lecting clouds for the formation of rain, and production of rivers ; 

 his observations also on the general diffusion of Springs, and their 

 never-failing supply of water, as derived from rains and dews, — show 

 much accurate observation, and point out correct conclusions which 

 have been often repeated, but rarely surpassed by his followers on 

 these subjects. 



" In another curious and extensive branch of geological inquiry 

 which relates to the history of fossil shells, he contended (in opposi- 

 tion to the prevailing theories of his predecessors and of many of his 

 contemporaries), that they were not accidental results of the plastic 

 power and the sport of Nature, but the real and true exuviae of 

 animals that formerly inhabited them. He contended further, that 

 these shells for the most part belong to species unknown in our 

 existing waters, but recommends caution in pronouncing them to 

 be absolutely extinct until we know the contents of the bottoms of 

 all our deepest seas. Can it be said that modern geology has ad- 

 vanced on this point much further than Ray ? 



" Again, with respect to the prevailing taste and studies of his 

 time, he complains that men are too much occupied in the study 

 of words, and too regardless of the study of things ; exclusively ab- 

 sorbed in attending to the works of the creature, and regardless of 

 the works of the Creator ; admiring and collecting carved ivory and 

 curious instruments of human invention, but insensible of the ex- 

 quisite and ten-thousand times more admirable mechanism that per- 

 vades the animal and vegetable worlds. 



" He complains further, that men are too much disposed to rely 

 on the authority of others, and too little willing to undertake the la- 

 bour of investigating Nature for themselves ; he stimulates them to 

 exertion by the hope of useful discoveries, any one of which may 

 amply reward the labours of a life. 



" Such were the feelings and such the principles by which his 

 energetic soul was ever actuated ; such the exertions to which he 

 called on his contemporaries ; — constant and strenuous exertions to 

 extend the sphere of human knowledge and useful discovery, and 

 thereby advance the welfare of mankind. And surrounded as I now 

 am by a host of individuals, the most illustrious members of the 

 numerous learned and philosophical Societies which in our day have 

 arisen to adorn and benefit our country, I feel that you all not 

 only sympathize with me in admiration of the great example he has 

 set us, but yourselves rejoice to follow in those paths of useful la- 

 bour which Ray not only pointed out, but was himself indefati- 

 gable to pursue. — To do just honour to the memory of so great and 

 cood a man is the object of this day : — A man whom as an indivi- 



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