84 PEOF. J. LOGAN LOBLEY, F.G.S., ETC., ON 



incontrovertible account of the preparation of man's abode 

 was not possessed by anyone, however learned. 



Indeed, it is not too much to say that while some other 

 sciences Avere advancing by leaps and bounds, terrestrial 

 knowledge had made no headway until Hntton's Theory of the 

 Earth was published. But after that epoch-making event, 

 notwithstanding even then much strong opposition, geology 

 advanced by rapid strides. It enlisted the enthusiastic love 

 and devotion of some very able men ; the Geological Society 

 was founded,* as was also a Chair of Geology at each of our 

 two great Universities, and Dr. William Buckland, after- 

 wards Dean of Westminster, was appointed to be the first 

 teacher of geology in the University of Oxford, and the 

 Rev. Adam Sedgwick to the same position at Cambridge. 

 The State recognized the substantial character and the 

 utility of geological science by the creation of the Geological 

 Survey of Great Britain and Ireland, and for half a century 

 the truths revealed by geological investigation have been 

 acknowledged and highly valued in every civilized country 

 on the globe. 



On previous occasions I have dwelt strongly on the 

 educating power of geological knowledge and methods in 

 different directions, and noAv 1 will venture to invite attention 

 to its effective teaching of the unity of nature and the 

 constant working of the processes of nature in one direction, 

 that of progress towards the conditions at present existing 

 on the earth, which are, in fact, the conditions under which 

 man can live and develop his capabilities. 



The record of the rocks is one of change — change world- 

 Avide and change continuous. But if it be a record of 

 incessant change, it is also a record of persistency of 

 direction to Avhich the Avork performed by that incessant 

 change points. For all the changes revealed by geological 

 investigation are but steps in the great march of cosmical 

 events towards the production of present terrestrial con- 

 ditions. And as these conditions allow not only of the life 

 of mankind, but also of the increase and physical develop- 

 ment of humanity and of the mental and moral groAvth of 

 the human being, Ave must conclude that all geological 

 changes, Avhich include pala^ontological or ancient zoological 

 changes, liaA^e been the necessary steps for man's existence 

 on the earth. After referring to the analogies betAveen the 



* By Mr. George Bellas Greenhougli, F.R.S., in 1807. 



