294 Geological Society. 



to imitate the example of those, for whose labours we have so much 

 reason to be grateful; and to reflect, that — if the botanical charac- 

 ters of fossil specimens be obscure, and the investigation of them at 

 present unsatisfactory, — the subject is still comparatively new, and 

 the difficulties such as perseverance and the multiplication of speci- 

 mens must every day diminish : whilst the views to be derived from 

 the connection of vegetable remains with geology, are scarcely infe- 

 rior in interest to those already disclosed by the fossil remains of 

 animals ? The distribution of plants upon the former surfaces of the 

 globe, — its relation to the epochs of geological deposition, — the varia- 

 tions it may have undergone from change of climate, either by alter- 

 ation of internal temperature, or of elevation above the sea ; — the 

 former existence of vegetation in the more complex forms, in tracts 

 where scarcely any traces of it exist at present, — are subjects which 

 give rise to some of the most important general questions connected 

 with the history of the globe ; — and that require for theif due con- 

 sideration such an acquaintance with the characters of fossil vegetable 

 remains, as none but the most skilful and experienced botanists 

 can be expected to possess. 



On the Geology of foreign countries, the last year has not been 

 unproductive. A valuable paper on the structure of Jamaica, has 

 been published in our Transactions, by one of the most skilful of our 

 practical observers. We have received a very important contribution 

 of specimens from Captain Franklin and Dr. Richardson, under whose 

 direction the expedition to the northern coast of America has been 

 conducted with so much ability and success -, — and a memoir by the 

 latter, on the structure and components of those regions, will soon 

 be read at one of our meetings. Captain Parry also, and Captain 

 Foster, have presented us with a valuable collection of specimens from 

 Spitzbergen, obtained during their late expedition to the north. 

 Captain King, who has enriched our cabinets with specimens from 

 the coasts of Australia, and done so much for other departments 

 of natural history, has recently sent home a collection of rocks 

 obtained during the earlier part of his survey in the Straits of Magel- 

 lan ; and further collections, accompanied with new information, may 

 still be expected from the same indefatigable observer. We have rea- 

 son also to hope that Geology will not be neglected during the expe- 

 ditions soon about to sail, — of Captain Boteler, for the survey of the 

 western coast of Africa, and of Captain Foster, for the purpose 

 of determining the longitude of important stations on the shores of 

 the Atlantic. 



There is the greater reason to rejoice in the contributions thus 

 given, or to be expected, from the Naval department of the public 

 service, since it has not unfrequently been the reproach of this 

 country, that — possessing colonies, which have dispersed the natives 

 of Britain in every region of the habitable globe, and commerce, that 

 maintains continual intercourse with them,— the benefits conferred 

 by England on the natural history of distant countries, have fallen 

 very far short of what the intelligence and activity of our national 

 character might have afforded. Let us hope, however, that brighter 



days 



