Bridgewater Treatises

BRIDGEWATER TREATISES: A series of books written in accordance with the will of Francis Henry, eighth earl of Bridgewater (d. Feb. 11, 1829), who left eight thousand pounds to the Royal Society, to be paid to one or several authors, selected by the president, for writing a treatise "On the power, wisdom, and goodness of God, as manifested in the Creation." The following eight authors were selected, and their treatises published (12 vols., London, 1833–36): (1) Thomas Chalmers, The Adaptation of External Nature to the Moral and Intellectual Condition of Man; (2) John Kidd, The Adaptation of External Nature to the Physical Condition of Man; (3) William Whewell, Astronomy and General Physics considered with Reference to Natural Theology; (4) Charles Bell, The Hand, its Mechanism and Vital Endowments as Evincing Design; (5) Peter Mark Roget, Animal and Vegetable Physiology considered with Reference to Natural Theology; (6) William Buckland, Geology and Mineralogy considered with Reference to Natural Theology; (7) William Kirby, The Habits and Instincts of Animals with Reference to Natural Theology; (8) William Prout, Chemistry, Meteorology, and the Function of Digestion considered with Reference to Natural Theology.