Royal Institution. 275 



been deposited mechanically from water ; secondly, that the newer 

 deposits were generally horizontal ; and, thirdly, that there was an 

 invariable order of superposition of similar mineral types. The idea 

 thus involved was that of " the universality of formations," and a 

 perception of order in the arrangement of the materials of which the 

 earth's crust is made up ; and the idea was described as useful and 

 suggestive, although the conclusions were in many important respects 

 unsound. While Werner was thus laying the foundation of geology 

 by observations and speculations on mineral structure, William Smith, 

 the father of English geology, had obtained an insight into an im- 

 portant fact concerning the distribution of fossil bodies ; and at the 

 same time Dr. Hutton, in his * Theory of the Earth,' had recognised 

 a succession of worlds and a history of the nature of the succession 

 by the agency of causes not different from those still in action. The 

 idea involved in the discoveries of Smith was, that " fossils are cha- 

 racteristic of formations ;" while Hutton first appreciated the import- 

 ance of existing causes. The next step in geological discovery was 

 described as the result of Cuvier's investigations in palaeontology, 

 and the establishment of the law of the adaptation of structure to habit 

 in all animals. This law however is combined with another, also 

 of great importance — that there is in all nature a permanence of ty- 

 pical peculiarities. Modified and brought to bear on fossils in this 

 way, the " law of universal adaptation " was described as the sug- 

 gestive idea in this step of geological progress ; while the law after- 

 wards made out concerning the representation of species in time as 

 well as space was mentioned as affording important accessory aid in 

 applying palaeontology to the determination of geological problems. 

 After referring to the subject of geological classification, and descri- 

 bing it as the result of the working out of these various laws, the lec- 

 turer briefly stated the actual results of observation in descriptive 

 geology, and the nature of the most remarkable speculations in phy- 

 sical geology ; but the latter were rather indicated in allusions to 

 the desiderata in that department than dwelt upon or described di- 

 rectly. Among these desiderata he particularly referred to the con- 

 dition of knowledge with regard to metamorphic rocks, and their 

 relations with rocks of distinctly igneous origin on the one hand, 

 and the fossiliferous stratified rocks on the other. He stated that 

 much yet remains to be done in connecting the present with the im- 

 mediately antecedent condition ; but expressed grounds for belief 

 that investigations actually in progress may lead to some satisfactory 

 and fixed conclusions. The malting comparative observations on a 

 large scale was mentioned as an important means of advancing geo- 

 logical science : and in conclusion. Prof. Ansted spoke of the neces- 

 sity of distinguishing in all cases the true objects of geology, and 

 stated his firm conviction that geology would soon occupy a very 

 important place as an inductive science, leading to great practical 

 results. 



March 12. — " On the Causes and Amount of Geological Denuda- 

 tions." By Mr. A. C. Ramsay. 



Mr. Ramsay commenced by defining the term " geological denu- 



