79 
of which she literally had to be dug. Had they had only flint implements, 
iimself and crew might have been exhumed by some future Lyell as pre- 
Adamite men, though born in the nineteenth century of grace ! In the same 
way he had seen extensive lines of sea-beach altered by changes in the direc- 
tmn of winds and currents ; showing how unreliable are the estimates of time 
founded on sea-beaches. All such conclusions must be fallacious, as they are 
based upon the assumption that all the conditions under which deposits have 
been formed are the same now that they were thousands of years since, which, 
as a matter of fact, is not so, nor could be so. (Hear, hear.) 
Mr. R N. Fowler then rose, and said he had the honour to propose a 
oas which needed no words of his to insure it an enthusiastic reception by 
the company. It was the health of the noble lord who presided. (Cheers.) 
In every assembly of Englishmen, in every part of the world where patriotism 
philanthropy, or Christianity was honoured, the name of the Earl of Shaftes- 
bury would be received with enthusiasm. (Hear, hear.) They all knew the 
way m which the noble earl had devoted himself to the good of mankind. 
(Cheers.) Foregoing the highest honours in the gift of the Crown, he had 
applied himself with an earnest and heroic self-devotion to the promotion of 
he welfare of the community amongst which he lived, and his labours were 
chiefly directed to the benefit of the poorest classes of his countrymen. (Hear 
ear.) He was identified with eveiy great work of charity or philanthropy 
in this country, and the best energies of his life were devoted to the cause of 
ragged schools. (Hear, hear.) The toast of his health would therefore be 
received with enthusiasm, under whatever circumstances it was proposed to an 
assembly of Englishmen ; but they were met there that evening under peculiar 
obligations to his lordship. They were assembled to inaugurate one of the 
most important movements that could be undertaken by any society-a 
movement to resist the encroachments of scepticism and infidelity on the faith 
of Christians (Hear, hear.) The noble earl had kindly given his assistance 
in the formation of a Society which had for its object a work of so much 
importance. He had placed himself in the van of the movement, and he 
was therefore, entitled to their gratitude. (Hear, hear.) Younger men 
might have deemed it an honour to take up such a cause and lead it on to 
success. le noble earl did not look forward to any reward such as that. He 
had already left the impress of his name on the history of the ace (hear 
hear) ; and though the cause which the Society advocated was one In every 
way worthy of the support of men of rank and intellect, it was from no such 
motive that the noble lord had come forward to assist it. It was because he 
elt the permanent importance of the work which the Society was established 
o promote. (Hear, hear.) Under these circumstances, he felt that when he 
as - k ^ d r i n k riie health of their noble chairman, they would do so 
with the heartiest wishes for his happiness and prosperity. (Cheers.) 
the toast was drunk amid the most enthusiastic plaudits. 
Hie Noble Earl, in rising to respond, was greeted with renewed cheerino- 
He said he was very much obliged for the kind manner in which they had 
received the toast. Upon any other occasion it would amount to presump- 
