Geological Society, 59 



boon which we demand in return for our gratuitous efforts is, that the 

 landed proprietors of England will enrich our archives with sections 

 and illustrations of their several neighbourhoods. 



In thus adverting to the practical uses of geology, and in asserting 

 that our advances have been firmly secured, by patiently working out 

 the evidences offered by the fossil world j we must at the same time 

 allow, that our progress has been occasionally checked by the pro- 

 mulgation of captivating but untenable theories. 



Persuaded as we are that there is no royal road to the truths we 

 are in search of, let us guard against hastily conceived speculations, 

 which none can form more readily than those who have least laboured 

 in our vocation j recollecting that theories are only to be tolerated 

 so far as they accord with Nature's laws and positive observations. 



Let us not cease to weed out from the school of English geology 

 the schemes of those who would seek to grasp the conclusion of the 

 problem before the very data have been fully placed before them. 

 Acting on the maxims of the great father of modern philosophy, and 

 proceeding steadily from the known to the unknown, let us not be ap- 

 palled by the magnitude of the difficulties we have yet to vanquish, — 

 but let each of us strive to bring annually to these halls, fruits earned 

 by the sweat of his brow j conscious, if any laurels be decreed by 

 posterity to the geologists of this age, that those will have the largest 

 share, who by their own discoveries have best contributed to lay the 

 true foundations of the science. 



In a science like our own, receiving the perpetual accession of new 

 discoveries which limit or extend our previous conclusions, it is obvious 

 that few geological memoirs can be perfect, when they first pro- 

 ceed from the author's pen, however experienced in observation. 

 The ordeal, therefore, our writings have to pass through in the 

 animating discussions which they elicit within these walls, may be 

 considered the true safeguard of our scientific reputation. This 

 excellent practice, sanctioned by long experience and your approval, 

 not only ameliorates your transactions, by calling forth and embodying 

 the unrestrained opinions of practised observers ; but it further ope- 

 rates in cementing us into a community of good feeling, and gives to 

 our assemblies that stamp of energy and friendship which has long 

 characterized this Society. 



The term of my services, Gentlemen, is now expired ; and I bid 

 you farewell, with heartfelt thanks for the countless proofs of kind 

 cooperation you have given me, and which, more than I can ex- 

 press, have bound me to your interests and welfare. My gratifi- 

 cation is this day complete, in having to record, that among the 

 numerous acts of which you may be proud, there is no one more 

 creditable to your feelings, or better devised to consolidate the pro- 

 sperity of this Institution, than the last expression of your will, by 

 which you have transferred the power from my hands to those of one, 

 whose life has been devoted to your cause, and who may justly glory 

 in having been the first President of the Geological Society of 

 London. 



I 2 



