ADDRESS 



BY 



THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD WROTTESLEY. 



Gentlemen, — If, on taking this Chair for the first time as your President, 

 I do not enlarge upon my deficiencies for adequately filling the responsible 

 office to which you have done me the honour to elect me, I hope you will 

 believe that I am not the less sensible of them. 



Your last Meeting was held under the Presidency of one not more distin- 

 guished by his high rank and exalted station than by his many excellent 

 qualities, and the discriminating interest which he has ever manifested in the 

 promotion of Art and Science. It was one of the most successful Meetings on 

 record. 



We are now once more assembled in this ancient and venerable seat of 

 learning ; and the first topic of interest which presents itself to me, who owe 

 to Oxford what academic training I have received, is the contrast presented 

 by the state of Science and the teaching of Science in this University in the 

 Autumn of the year 1814, when my residence here commenced, and for five 

 years afterwards, with its present condition. As the private pupil of the late 

 Dr. Kidd, and within a few yards of the spot from which I have now the honour 

 to inaugurate the Meeting of this distinguished Association, I first imbibed 

 that love of Science from which some of the purest pleasures of my life have 

 been derived ; and I cannot mention the name of my former Tutor without 

 acknowledging the deep debt of gratitude I owe to the memory of that able, 

 conscientious and single-hearted man. 



It was at this period that a small knot of Geologists, headed by Broderip, 

 Buckland, the two Conybeares and Kidd, had begun to stimulate the curiosity 

 of the Students and resident Graduates by Lectures and Geological excur- 

 sions in the neighbourhood of this town. The lively illustrations of Buck- 

 land, combined with genuine talent, by degrees attracted crowds to his 

 teaching, and the foundations of that interesting science, already advancing 

 under the illustrious Cuvier in France, anddestinedsoon to spread over Europe, 

 were at this time fairly laid in England within these classical Halls. Many 

 a time in those days have my studies been agreeably interrupted by the 



