304 Eminent Living Geologists — Prof. Phillips. 



'shire for alDetter knowledge of its natural beauties and tlie memorials 

 of its old inliabitants." 



In addition to his office of Ke^er of the Museum at York, Mr. 

 Phillips was appointed one of the Secretaries of the Yorkshire 

 Philosophical Society, and in that .capacity he delivered many 

 lectures to its members. About 1830 the late Sir David Brewster 

 (then Dr. Brewster) addressed to Mr. Phillips, as Secretary of the 

 Yorkshire Philosophical Society, a letter urging the advantages 

 which would arise from an annual meeting of all the lovers and 

 the cultivators of science. This suggestion was much approved 

 by the Society, especially by Mr, W. V. Harcourt, its first Presi- 

 dent, and immediately there was issued a circular letter to members 

 of scientific societies and the active cultivators and promoters of 

 science, inviting their attendance at York to consider the propriety 

 of founding an Association for the Advancement of Science. The 

 result was that on the 27th September, 1831, the theatre of the 

 York Museum was filled with eminent men and cultivators of science 

 from all parts of the country. Viscount Milton was the chairman 

 on the occasion. Mr. Harcourt suggested a code of laws, and Mr. 

 Phillips commenced his labours as secretary. Then and there was 

 established the " British Association for the Advancement of 

 Science," — "to give a stronger impulse and a more systematic 

 direction to scientific inquiry; to promote the intercourse of those 

 who cultivate science in different parts of the British empire with 

 one another, and with foreign philosophers ; to obtain a more 

 general attention to the objects of science, and a removal of any 

 disadvantages of a public kind which impede its progress." The 

 second meeting was held at Oxford, when Mr. Phillips was chosen 

 Assistant General Secretary, which office he held with untiring zeal, 

 and to the general satisfaction of all members, until 1863. The 

 position achieved by the British Association is almost entirely due 

 to the unweai'ying energy, the constant industry, and the uniform 

 courtesy displayed by Mr. Phillips. In 1834 Mr. Phillips was 

 elected a Fellow of the Eoyal Society, and in the same year the 

 Chair of Geology in King's College, London, was offered to and 

 accepted by him. He held this appointment for six years, giving 

 annually one course of lectures, and then returning to resume with 

 undiminished energies his favourite duties at York. 



The Geological Survey of the United Kingdom, which is now 

 extended, under the direction of Sir Eoderick Murchison, Bart., 

 over the length and breadth of these islands, was originated and 

 commenced by Sir Henry De La Beche in 1835. His first " Report 

 on the Geology of Cornwall, Devon, and West Somerset" was 

 published in 1839. Upon the recommendation of De La Beche, 

 the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury appointed Mr. 

 John Phillips " to examine and describe, for the purpose of publica- 

 tion, the organic remains of the older strata " of western England. 

 Mr. Phillips entered with zeal upon this work, and in 1841 was 

 published " Figures and Description of Palaeozoic Fossils of Corn- 

 wall, Devon, and West Somerset." In this work Mr. Phillips says, 



