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Darwin's activity during this session led to some rather alarming effects upon his health； and he was induced to take a holiday in Staffordshire and the Isle of Wight。 He was not idle； however； for a remark of his uncle； Mr Wedgwood； led him to make those interesting observations on the work done by earthworms； that resulted in his preparing a short memoir on the subject； and this paper； 〃On the Formation of Mould〃； was read at the Society on November 1st； 1837； being the first of Darwin's papers published in full； it appeared in Vol。 V。 of the 〃Geological Transactions〃； pages 505…510。）
During this session； Darwin attended nearly all the Council meetings； and took such an active part in the work of the Society that it is not surprising to find that he was now requested to accept the position of Secretary。 After some hesitation； in which he urged his inexperience and want of knowledge of foreign languages； he consented to accept the appointment。 （〃L。L。〃 I。 page 285。）
At the anniversary meeting on February 16th； 1838； the Wollaston Medal was given to Owen in recognition of his services in describing the fossil mammals sent home by Darwin。 In his address； the President； Professor Whewell； dwelt at length on the great value of the papers which Darwin had laid before the Society during the preceding session。
On March 7th； Darwin read before the Society the most important perhaps of all his geological papers； 〃On the Connexion of certain Volcanic Phenomena in South America； and on the Formation of Mountain…Chains and Volcanoes as the effect of Continental Elevations〃。 In this paper he boldly attacked the tenets of the Catastrophists。 It is evident that Darwin at this time； taking advantage of the temporary improvement in his health； was throwing himself into the breach of Uniformitarianism with the greatest ardour。 Lyell wrote to Sedgwick on April 21st； 1837； 〃Darwin is a glorious addition to any society of geologists； and is working hard and making way； both in his book and in our discussions。〃 （〃The Life and Letters of the Reverend Adam Sedgwick〃； Vol。 I。 page 484； Cambridge； 1890。）
We have unfortunately few records of the animated debates which took place at this time between the old and new schools of geologists。 I have often heard Lyell tell how Lockhart would bring down a party of friends from the Athenaeum Club to Somerset House on Geological nights； not； as he carefully explained； that 〃he cared for geology； but because he liked to while the fellows fight。〃 But it fortunately happens that a few days after this last of Darwin's great field…days； at the Geological Society； Lyell； in a friendly letter to his father…in…law； Leonard Horner； wrote a very lively account of the proceedings while his impressions were still fresh； and this gives us an excellent idea of the character of these discussions。
Neither Sedgwick nor Buckland were present on this occasion； but we can imagine how they would have chastised their two 〃erring pupils〃more in sorrow than in angerhad they been there。 Greenough； too； was absent possibly unwilling to countenance even by his presence such outrageous doctrines。
Darwin； after describing the great earthquakes which he had experienced in South America； and the evidence of their connection with volcanic outbursts； proceeded to show that earthquakes originated in fractures； gradually formed in the earth's crust； and were accompanied by movements of the land on either side of the fracture。 In conclusion he boldly advanced the view 〃that continental elevations； and the action of volcanoes； are phenomena now in progress； caused by some great but slow change in the interior of the earth； and； therefore； that it might be anticipated； that the formation of mountain chains is likewise in progress： and at a rate which may be judged of by either actions； but most clearly by the growth of volcanoes。〃 （〃Proc。 Geol。 Soc。〃 Vol。 II。 pages 654…60。）
Lyell's account （〃Life； Letters and Journals of Sir Charles Lyell； Bart。〃； edited by his sister…in…law； Mrs Lyell； Vol。 II。 pages 40； 41 （Letter to Leonard Horner； 1838）； 2 vols。 London； 1881。） of the discussion was as follows： 〃In support of my heretical notions；〃 Darwin 〃opened upon De la Beche； Phillips and others his whole battery of the earthquakes and volcanoes of the Andes； and argued that spaces at least a thousand miles long were simultaneously subject to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions； and that the elevation of the Pampas； Patagonia； etc。； all depended on a common cause； also that the greater the contortions of strata in a mountain chain； the smaller must have been each separate and individual movement of that long series which was necessary to upheave the chain。 Had they been more violent； he contended that the subterraneous fluid matter would have gushed out and overflowed； and the strata would have been blown up and annihilated。 （It is interesting to compare this with what Darwin wrote to Henslow seven years earlier。） He therefore introduces a cooling of one small underground injection； and then the pumping in of other lava； or porphyry； or granite； into the previously consolidated and first…formed mass of igneous rock。 （Ideas somewhat similar to this suggestion have recently been revived by Dr See （〃Proc。 Am。 Phil。 Soc。〃 Vol。 XLVII。 1908； page 262。）。） When he had done his description of the reiterated strokes of his volcanic pump； De la Beche gave us a long oration about the impossibility of strata of the Alps； etc。； remaining flexible for such a time as they must have done； if they were to be tilted； convoluted； or overturned by gradual small shoves。 He never； however； explained his theory of original flexibility； and therefore I am as unable as ever to comprehend why flexiblility is a quality so limited in time。
〃Phillips then got up and pronounced a panegyric upon the 〃Principles of Geology〃； and although he still differed； thought the actual cause doctrine had been so well put； that it had advanced the science and formed a date or era； and that for centuries the two opposite doctrines would divide geologists； some contending for greater pristine forces； others satisfied； like Lyell and Darwin； with the same intensity as nature now employs。
〃Fitton quizzed Phillips a little for the warmth of his eulogy； saying that he （Fitton） and others； who had Mr Lyell always with them； were in the habit of admiring and quarrelling with him every day； as one might do with a sister or cousin； whom one would only kiss and embrace fervently after a long absence。 This seemed to be Mr Phillips' case； coming up occasionally from the provinces。 Fitton then finished this drollery by charging me with not having done justice to Hutton； who he said was for gradual elevation。
〃I replied； that most of the critics had attacked me for overrating Hutton； and that Playfair understood him as I did。
〃Whewell concluded by considering Hopkins' mathematical calculations； to which Darwin had often referred。 He also said that we ought not to try and make out what Hutton would have taught and thought； if he had known the facts which we now know。〃
It may be necessary to point out； in explanation of the above narrative； that while it was perfectly clear from Hutton's rather obscure and involved writings that he advocated slow and gradual change on the earth's surface； his frequent references to violent action and earthquakes led many including Playfair； Lyell and Whewellto believe that he held the changes going on in the earth's interior to be of a catastrophic nature。 Fitton； however； maintained that Hutton was consistently uniformitarian。 Before the idea of the actual 〃flowing〃 of solid bodies under intense pressure had been grasped by geologists； De la Beche； like Playfair before him； maintained that the bending and folding of rocks must have been effected before their complete consolidation。
In concluding his account of this memorable discussion； Lyell adds： 〃I was much struck with the different tone in which my gradual causes was treated by all； even including De la Beche； from that which they experienced in the same room four years ago； when Buckland； De la Beche（？）； Sedgwick； Whewell； and some others treated them with as much ridicule as was consistent with politeness in my presence。〃
This important paper was； in spite of its theoretical character； published in full in the 〃Transactions of the Geological Society〃 （Ser。 2； Vol。 V。 pages 601…630）。 It did not however appear till 1840； and possibly some changes may have been made in it during the long interval between reading and printing。 During the year 1839； Darwin continued his regular attendance at the Council meetings； but there is no record of any discussions in which he may have taken part； and he contributed no papers himself to the Society。 At the beginning of 1840； he was re…elected for the third time as Secretary； but the results of failing health are indicated by the circumstance that； only at one meeting early in the session； was he able to attend the Council。 At the beginning of the next session （Feb。 1841） Bunbury succeeded him as Secretary； Darwin still remaining on the Council。 It may be regarded as a striking indication of the esteem in which he was held by his fe