24 
LIFE OF DEAN BUCKLAND . 
[CH. II. 
A letter written by Lord Grenville to Buckland in 
November 1820 speaks warmly of the latter’s zeal in the 
cause of geology. “ I am delighted,” he writes, and the 
words are the more important as the writer was then 
Chancellor of the University of Oxford, “to learn that 
the interesting science which you are pursuing is making 
such rapid progress here and elsewhere, in consequence 
(I must say) in a very great degree of your indefatigable 
exertions.” 
To Buckland his “ noble subterranean science,” as he 
called it, appeared the most fascinating of pursuits, and 
his admiration for it was warmly expressed in the Inaugural 
Address which he delivered upon his appointment. In the 
course of his Address he acknowledges the “gracious 
encouragement” which His Royal Highness the Prince 
Regent had given to this infant establishment, and “ the 
ardent zeal with which my application to the Crown 
on this occasion was furthered by Lord Grenville, the 
Chancellor of the University, whose care for good learning 
in this place it is impossible for me too highly to appreciate.” 
Modestly enough he pleads for Science forming a sub¬ 
ordinate part in the University curriculum, while at the 
same time he would not surrender “ a single particle of our 
system of classical study,” which he regards as better than 
that prevailing on the Continent “ For some years past,” 
he continued, “ these newly created sciences have formed 
a leading subject of education in most universities on the 
Continent, and a competent knowledge of them is now 
possessed by the majority of intelligent persons in our 
country.” 
