108 
SECOND REPORT 
Mr. Murchison called the attention of the Meeting to the 
peculiar obligation which it lay under to one of its Members. 
“ At our first Meeting, Gentlemen, in York, when the Institu¬ 
tion was in its infancy and every difficulty hung around us, a 
Professor of this University came forward and undertook, on 
his own responsibility, that Oxford would open its gates to re¬ 
ceive us. Delighted as we have been with the reception which 
we have experienced, and sensible how much the Association 
has been consolidated by this Meeting, we owe an acknowledge¬ 
ment of gratitude to Dr. Daubeny as the primary cause of our 
having assembled here.” 
Dr. Daubeny said, that from the situation which he occupied 
in the University, it was naturally to be expected that he should 
regard with peculiar interest the Meeting, in that place, of an 
Association which he considered calculated to form an import¬ 
ant epoch in the history of British science. “ The attachment,” 
said the Professor, (( which I entertain for the cause of science 
implies in my case no extraordinary merit, placed as I am in a 
situation of comparative independence, by my connexion with 
one of the great ecclesiastical establishments of the country. 
It is to those only who have pursued such studies without par¬ 
taking of the advantages derived from academical institutions, or 
that patronage of Government which in other countries supplies 
their place, to whom the praise is due of a high degree of dis¬ 
interestedness in preferring the attractions of philosophy to 
those of emolument. With respect to my office of Secretary, 
any credit which may be attached to the discharge of it belongs 
equally to my colleague Professor Powell, and the other Secre¬ 
taries of the Association, and amongst them to one who I regret 
to find has been prevented by illness from attending this Meet¬ 
ing, I allude to Mr. Phillips, Secretary for York, an individual 
whom I regard with peculiar friendship, and to whom the 
Society was more deeply indebted at a much earlier stage of its 
progress than to me.” 
The Marquis of Northampton said, that the Meeting had 
that evening received from its President an excellent exemplifi¬ 
cation of the utility of scientific knowledge. “ We have seen, 
Gentlemen, that an animal which has been represented even by 
BufFon as imperfect in its constitution, and almost incapable of 
enjoyment, appears, on a nearer and more accurate view of its 
habits and anatomy, to be no less happily framed, and adapted 
t o its peculiar manner of living, than the other parts of the crea¬ 
tion. Thus even in those cases which present difficulties in the 
way of superficial knowledge, a higher degree of acquaintance 
with nature is sure to find a satisfactory solution. I rejoice, Gen- 
