Index

To

The President’s Address

Trans. Devon. Assoc., vol.  2, Part 1, (1867), pp. 1-37.

by

W. Pengelly Esq., F.R.S., F.G.S. etc.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The Presidential Address was presented at the Association’s July 1867 Barnstaple meeting. The incoming Association President’s most significant contribution to science was his work on caves in Devon and their human occupation. He excavated at Kents Cavern following earlier work by Rev. John M’Enery and found similar evidence (Palaeolithic flint tools and the bones of extinct animals in the same strata) as had M’Enery. Pengelly had the advantage of working in a time of geological and religious awakening. This probably enabled him to find support and funding for the publication of his and M’Enery's work. Sceptics were nevertheless able to oppose his findings since it was  possible that later intrusion into earlier layers could not be ruled out in frequently excavated caves. Pengelly was one of the first to contribute proof that the Biblical chronology of the earth calculated by Archbishop James Ussher was incorrect. 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.