ev. Mr.
Ellis.

The annual amount is too trifling to stimulate to any extraordinary
exertions; yet, small as it is, it might, if properly applied, be
productive of much advantage to religion, and of great honour to the
Society. For this purpose, it would be desirable that it should be
delivered at some church or chapel, more likely to be attended by
members of the Royal Society. Notice of it should be given at the place
of worship appointed, at least a week previous to its delivery, and at
the two preceding weekly meetings of the Royal Society. The name of the
gentleman nominated for that year, and the church at which the sermon is
to be preached, should be stated.

With this publicity attending it, and by a judicious selection of the
first two or three gentlemen appointed to deliver it, it would soon
be esteemed an honour to be invited to compose such a lecture, and the
Society might always find in its numerous list of members or aspirants,
persons well qualified to fulfil a task as beneficial for the promotion
of true religion, as it ever must be for the interest of science. I am
tempted to believe that such a course would call forth exertions of the
most valuable character, as well as give additional circulation to what
is already done on that subject.

The geological speculations which have been adduced, perhaps with too
much haste by some, as according with the Mosaic history, and by
others, as inconsistent with its truth, would, if this subject had been
attentively considered, have been allowed to remain until the fullest
and freest inquiry had irrevocably fixed their claim to the character
of indisputable facts. But, I will not press this subject further on
my reader's attention, lest he should think I am myself delivering the
lecture. All that I could have said on this point has been so much more
ably stated by one whose enlightened view of geological science has
taken away some difficulties from its cultivators, and, I hope, removed
a stumbling-block from many respectable individuals, that I should only
weaken by adding to the argument. [I allude to the critique of Dr. Ure's
Geology in the British Review, for July, 1829; an Essay, equally worthy
of a philosopher and a Christian.]

SECTION 10. OF THE CROONIAN LECTURE.

The payment [Three pounds.] for this Lecture, like that of the
preceding, is small. It was instituted by Dr. Croone, for an annual
essay on the subject of Muscular Motion. It is a litt