ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. XXIX 



jects of sufficient magnitude and grandeur to create an adequate 

 interest to engage us in their investigation." Unquestionably ; and, 

 when we see, as is so often the case now, assemblages of simple but 

 intelligent m.en listening with marked attention to Lectures on Geo- 

 logy, and on science generally, can we doubt that they afford useful 

 mental food even to the most humble, and have a tendency to raise 

 their minds from mere sensual indulgence to the healthy contem- 

 plation of natural and therefore divine truths ? 



In 1818 Dr. Buckland was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society ; 

 in 1824 he was chosen President of our Society ; and in 1825, whilst 

 still holding with memorable ability that office, he was advanced to 

 a Canonry of Christ Church, having pre^dously resigned his Fellow- 

 ship and been presented to the living of Stoke Charity, Hampshire : 

 soon after he married Miss Moreland of Sheepstead House, Abingdon, 

 — an estimable lady, who shared and appreciated his scientific toil 

 whilst she lightened the anxieties of life and spread a charm over home 

 occupations by her devoted affection. In 1832 he was President of 

 the British Association at its first Meeting in Oxford. He became 

 a Fellow of the Linnean Society in 1821 . In 1847 he was appointed 

 a Trustee of the British Museum, the geological and palseontological 

 collections of which he had actively promoted for several years, as 

 he had also supported the establishment of the Museum of Practical 

 Geology. In 1845 he was appointed, on the recommendation of 

 Sir Robert Peel, Dean of Westminster ; and, although it has been 

 said that he never aimed at high distinction in theology, it cannot 

 be doubted that his labours in advancing every branch of human 

 knowledge which came under the scrutiny of his active mind were 

 not without abundant success in producing that frame of mind which 

 is best fitted for the contemplation and appreciation of di\'ine wisdom. 

 My last personal meeting with Dr. Buckland was on returning from 

 the Meeting of the Association at Swansea in 1848, when I joined him, 

 Mr. Greenough, and Mr. Strickland on the way to Cardiff', passed the 

 evening with them there, and on the next morning crossed over to 

 Bristol. My two other distinguished friends, who have also been 

 removed from us, went on immediately to London, but Dr. Buckland 

 remained with me to examine the Cathedral and the celebrated Red 

 Church, and no time can efface the recollection of the enjoyment I 

 experienced in being guided through those venerable buildings by 

 one who freely and unostentatiously communicated the rich stores of 

 his archaeological knowledge. I parted with him at Didcot, he pro- 

 ceeding to Westminster and I to Oxford. 



To form a correct notion of the powerful manner in which Dr. 

 Buckland influenced the progress of Geological Science, it would be 

 necessary, not only to pass in review the long series of his Geological 

 Contributions, but also to realize the effect he produced on his 

 hearers, and on the University generally by his lectures. In the 

 present instance I must confine myself to the first of these objects, 

 as I cannot hope to convey to the mind of any one, who had never 

 heard Dr. Buckland speak, the inimitable effect of that union of the 

 most playful fancy with the most profound reflections, which so 



