392 



criterion of the comparative age of different formations. Thenceforth 

 palaeontology, comparative anatomy, and conchology became essential 

 part of geological stndy. The chronology of secondary strata, under 

 the guidance of Smith, first assumed a definite form in these islands. 

 The character of the Flora and Fauna of the old world developed itself 

 generally, showing the changes of climate, and the gradual refrigera- 

 tion of the globe. Here mathematics asserted their claims, and the 

 questions of central heat, earthquakes, and the elevation of mountain 

 charts, were brought within the domain of pure science. The next 

 discoveries were those which proceeded from the study of the Alpine 

 glaciers. Agassiz and his followers have proved the prevalence of a 

 glacial period, during which the temperature of the earth assumed 

 a point of cold quite inconsistent with the previous and subsequent 

 epochs. The character of the fossils, the dispersion of erratic flocks, the 

 discovery of arctic animals in these temperate climes, corroborated this 

 theory by independent results. The present aspect of the science is 

 highly satisfactory. The formation of the geological survey of these 

 islands, the general adoption of similar undertakings in other countries, 

 the publication of accurate geological maps on the Continent, the 

 researches of travellers in all parts of the world, are adding every 

 day to our intimate knowledge of the formation of the crust of the 

 globe. 



As a proof what can be done to create a science even within the 

 short life of man, I have thought it right to give this short review of 

 what has been done in the matter of geology. I am well aware that we 

 possess in this city an excellent Society, specially directed to the work- 

 ing out of this subject. I have long been a member of it, and can bear 

 witness to its high position ; but we cannot give up our connexion with 

 any science, particularly one of so much interest and importance ; and 

 one of the great values of ah institution like ours is to direct and encou- 

 rage the exertions of kindred societies, as well as to give a helping hand 

 to those of our members who devote themselves to those pursuits. I 

 trust that we may also have some valuable contributions on botany, 

 physiology, and chemistry. It is desirable that the chain of our sci- 

 ences should be maintained entire, and that the variety and originality 

 of our papers should add interest to our meetings, and further increase 

 the fame of the Royal Irish Academy. 



Polite literature has also always been engrafted on our institution ; 

 and, in the early portion of our career, our " Transactions" con- 

 tain numerous contributions from this department. The course of 

 time has, however, produced a change, and we have had to complain of 

 late years of a paucity of papers on this subject. This may be ascribed 

 to various causes. In the first place, aesthetic literature is everywhere 

 on the decline. We have all heard of the sensation produced by Edmund 

 Burke's " Essay on the Sublime and Beautiful." The tragical unities — 

 the comparative merits of the Greek and French tragedies, on the one 

 side, as compared with Shakspeare and the Spanish school on the other — 

 and, in still more recent times, the discussions between the Romanti- 



