Name Index

To

[Presidential] Address

Trans. Devon. Assoc., vol.   2, Part 4, (1865), pp. 1-29.

by

Charles G.B. Daubeny. Esq., M.D., LL.D., F.R.S. etc.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The Devonshire Association’s Presidential Address was read at its June 1865 Tiverton meeting and becomes, therefore, a valuable record from the Association’s earliest days. Its author, Charles Giles Bridle Daubeny was a chemist, botanist and geologist. His biography, with a portrait is available in Wikipedia. His lengthy, wide ranging address essentially celebrates the progress of physical sciences during his lifetime. He proposed that “our insight into the Mysteries of Nature, and our power of applying to useful purposes the Forces that have been revealed to us, have both been advancing at an accelerated rate during the present century” and cites in support of his claim such inventions as the Electric Telegraph, the Locomotive, the Ocean Steamers, the Safety Lamp, Gas Illumination, the Penny Postage, and Photography. His attempts at reconciling Darwin’s recent “theory” with his own religious scruples are evident in the early parts of the lengthy address and make interesting reading. The Address, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.