Geological Society. 293 



from the maps already engraved ■ nor dwell upon the misery of plung- 

 ing, from a tract that we have traversed with the advantage of this 

 guide, into regions where the survey leaves us, lost, as it were, and 

 bewildered from the want of such assistance. The sheets of the Ord- 

 nance Survey which I now lay before you, represent a portion of the 

 midland counties, coloured geologically by a gentleman whose activity 

 and accuracy of research have made him minutely acquainted with 

 the stratification of the district around him* j and the maps thus co- 

 loured, are probably as complete specimens of geological illustration 

 as ever have been produced. The knowledge of this observer extends 

 with equal precision several miles to the north of the tract here re- 

 presented j but these sheets, you perceive, are bounded by a right 

 line ; — and beyond that line it has not been in his power to extend his 

 colours, because no good map of the adjacent district is in existence. 

 In this instance therefore, and no doubt in numberless other cases, 

 the want of adequate maps may cause the final and irreparable loss 

 of much geological information : And when it is considered, that 

 Geology is but one of many departments of useful inquiry, to which 

 good maps administer,— how much they contribute to the advancement 

 of commerce, and to the comforts and conveniences of life, — it will 

 be unnecessary to urge the enlightened and public spirited persons, 

 to whose hands this great undertaking is committed, to finish with as 

 much promptitude as possible what has been so admirably begun. 



The effective establishment in this country of a society for the 

 cultivation of Zoology, — a source of just gratification to all who are 

 interested in the progress of Natural History, — is an event connected 

 very intimately with the advancement of our subject : for to the 

 Geologist it is of great importance to obtain facility of access to 

 cabinets and to living specimens, in elucidation of fossil remains ; 

 and to have the privilege of appealing, in doubtful cases, to compe- 

 tent authorities, in what relates to the animal kingdom. But the 

 connection of Zoology with our science, is a field too wide to be dis- 

 cussed upon the present occasion ; nor would my own acquaintance 

 with the subject justify my dwelling upon it. 



The numerous provincial institutions, which have been recently 

 established for the promotion of useful knowledge, will also materially 

 contribute to the diffusion of a taste for Geology j and will throw 

 new light upon the structure and productions of their respective dis- 

 tricts. 



I wish that it had been in my power to speak with equal gratifica- 

 tion, of the relation in which our subject stands to another principal 

 department of Natural History j but the fossil remains of the vege- 

 table kingdom do not appear to occupy, at present, a just share of the 

 attention of Botanists in England : and hence it has happened, that 

 of the numerous and interesting specimens of fossil plants continu- 

 ally brought to light from our strata, especially within the coal dis- 

 tricts, the greater part has been sent for illustration to those na- 

 turalists on the continent, whose publications upon this branch of 

 inquiry, are so creditably known to science. Ought we not then 

 * Mr. Lonsdale of Bath. 



to 



