Summary

" Sire, to flourish , science needs freedom”.

These are the provocative words of Constant Prévost (1787-1856) who, in August 
1830, presented to King Louis-Philippe the Société géologique de France which he 
and his friends, Ami Boué (1794-1881) and Jules Desnoyers (1800-1887), had 
founded.
 
 
This was indeed an eloquent address in both its contents and the professional 
worth of its signatories. It openly challenged the scientific authority of the 
day soon after the “glorious days” (July 27th, 28th , 29th, 1830) of the 
Revolution which had just overthrown a political enemy of civil liberty. A study 
of articles and reports given in the Bulletin (the BSGF) reveals how the members 
of the Society had put into practice the freedom upon which their association 
was founded.
 

The intellectual circle of the 1830s brought new scientific concerns to light. 
These can be studied in the meetings and publications of the Société géologique 
de France dated during the period between 1830-1860. As we know, that was a time 
of great debates on the various interpretations of the history of the earth and 
the history of life. As many speeches were made on these subjects, a study of 
these 30 years will suffice to learn the importance of the evolution of ideas of 
the time.