ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. XXXVll 



ceived the idea of a geological map of that interesting region, and 

 carried out the bold suggestion by commencing, single-handed, at the 

 Land's End, this undertaking, which he contemplated extending by 

 degrees over the entire country. Backed by the support of scientific 

 friends, the Government of the day wisely resolved that this mineral 

 delineation should form a part of the Ordnance Survey under Colonel 

 Colby, to which Mr. De la Beche was consequently attached. 



I need not here stop to narrate all the gradual steps by which, 

 from this small beginning, the plan of Mr. De la Beche ripened into 

 that flourishing institution, which is now one of the chief scientific 

 ornaments of this metropolis. With but few assistants in the first 

 instance, and traversing many thousand miles with hammer in hand, 

 he produced maps which have been the admiration of all who have 

 had occasion to consult them, and laid the foundation of that geolo- 

 gical survey of the United Kingdom, which is destined not only to 

 enhance the value of our science, but to unfold the vast mineral 

 riches which lie concealed beneath the surface of our country. By 

 degrees the rapid accumulation of materials, minerals, rock speci- 

 mens, and organic remains rendered necessary the establishment of a 

 museum where they might be placed, preserved, and consulted ; and 

 then arose the idea of forming a complete Geological Museum of 

 the British Isles, at the head of which could be placed no more 

 worthy individual than he from whom the first idea had originated, 

 and the appointment of Mr. De la Beche as Director of the Museum 

 of Economic Geology was universally hailed with approbation. And 

 when the small building in Craig's Court could no longer contain 

 the treasures which had been collected, the voice of the nation 

 liberally responded to the appeal of science, and then, to use the 

 expressive words of Sir Roderick Murchison, " arose, and very much 

 after the design of the accomplished director himself, that well- 

 adapted edifice in Jermyn Street, which, to the imperishable credit 

 of its author, stands forth as the first palace ever raised from the 

 ground in Britain which is entirely devoted to the advancement of 

 science." 



These are words which, in speaking of Sir H. De la Beche, ought 

 never to be forgotten, and I am sure I need make no apology for 

 repeating them on this occasion. In fact I would vdllingly have 

 repeated every word used by Sir R. Murchison on that memorable 

 occasion, but I can only refer you to them. We all know the success 

 which attended the establishment of this Institution ; the School of 

 Mines which was attached to it ; the able band of scientific men, 

 naturahsts, geologists, palseontologists, chemists, and mineralogists, 

 whom he collected around him, and who assisted him in this great 

 national work ; and finally, after the close of the Great Exhibition in 

 1851, to which he also devoted his attention as the chairman of a 

 jury, the realization of his long-cherished scheme of making the 

 Museum of Practical Geology, as it was then to be called, available 

 for educational purposes. This was done by the establishment of 

 courses of lectures, with the main object of teaching to the miner 

 and the smelter those applications of science which they required, 



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