1823.] Royal Society. 65 



been as different from those of tropical regions as our common 

 cattle are from the musk ox of Siberia : in the other hypothesis, 

 the globe was considered to have undergone a change of tern 

 perature. Sir Humphry was of opinion that the latter supposi 

 tion is the most probable one : if the former were to be adopted, 

 it would be difficult to conceive how the elephants could obtain 

 sufficient food in polar climates, or how the hippopotami 

 could have inhabited their frozen lakes. He then entered into 

 some general views on this interesting subject, and its connexion 

 with that of the chaotic state of the globe, and with those of the 

 successive creations of living beings, and the early revolutions of 

 our planet, until it became at last fitted for the habitation of man. 



In presenting the medal to Prof. Buckland, the President 

 desired him to receive it as a tribute of respect from a body, 

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

 which considered the actual advances that had been made in 

 science, rather than the nation, school, or individual, by whom 

 they had been effected. Sir Humphry expressed his hopes that 

 Mr. B. would enjoy health to continue his researches, and that 

 his example would stimulate other members of the Society to 

 similar inquiries and labours ; for that geology was abundant in 

 objects of research, and was most worthy of being pursued, on 

 account of its connexion with the useful arts, of the happy views 

 which it affords of the order of nature, and of the assistance 

 which it lends to true religion. 



Sir H. considered that the scriptural account of the deluge was 

 now completely established from geological grounds; but the 

 science of geology, he maintained, should be studied in a manner 

 altogether independent of the authority of the Sacred Scriptures ; 

 for that these, as Bacon had said long before, merely gave some 

 remarkable facts in the history of the globe, and not systems of 

 philosophy; — the latter were left to be framed by the industry of 

 man, and by the exercise of his god-like faculty of reason, which, 

 in its highest sphere, approximates to revelation itself. The dis- 

 course was concluded by some appropriate moral reflections 

 arising out of the subjects discussed. 



The Society then proceeded to the election of their officers 

 and council for the year ensuing, when the following gentlemen 

 were chosen. 



President. — Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. 



Treasurer. — Davies Gilbert, Esq. MP. 



Secretaries. — William Thomas Brande, Esq. and Taylor 

 Combe, Esq. 



Of the Old Council.— Sir H. Davy; W. T. Brande, Esq.; 

 Samuel Goodenough, Lord Bishop of Carlisle ; Taylor Combe, 

 Esq.; Davies Gilbert, Esq.; Charles Hatchett, Esq.; J. F. W. 

 Herschel, Esq.; Sir Everard Home, Bart.; John Pond, Esq. 

 Astronomer Royal; William Hyde Wollaston, MD. ; Thomas 

 Young, MD. 



Nexu Series, vol. v. F 



