1898.] . Proceedings of Irish Societies, 55 



Belfast Naturalists' Field Club. 



December 14. — An informal meeting was held in the Museum for the 

 purpose of presenting to Mr. Joseph Wright, F.G.S., an address of con- 

 gratulation on the occasion of the recognition of his valuable services to 

 science by Her Majesty's Government. Mr. Swanston was called on to 

 preside. A number of letters of apology and regret for non-attendance 

 were received. William Gray was called on to read the address, which 

 was as follows: — 



" To Joseph Wright, Esq., F.G.S. 

 " Dear Sir, — We, your fellow-members of the Belfast Naturalists' Field 

 Club, sincerely and earnestly desire to congratulate you upon the dis- 

 tinguished honour conferred on you by Her Majesty's Government, in 

 awarding you a grant of ;^i5o from Her Majesty's Royal Bounty, in 

 recognition of the very valuable services you have rendered to science 

 by your laborious and long continued original researches into the 

 palaeontology of the Carboniferous, lyiassic, Cretaceous, and Tertiary 

 rocks of Ireland ; more especially your investigation into the microzoa 

 of the Secondary, Tertiary, and Recent deposits. 



" This distinction is of the greatest satisfaction to your numerous 

 scientific and private friends ; and it emphasizes the honour done you 

 a short time ago by the Geological Society of London. This, the parent 

 and still the most distinguished geological society in the world, selected 

 you as a distinguished Irish geologist to receive one of the highest 

 recognitions of unaided service it is in the power of that Society to 

 bestow— namely, a grant from ' The Barlow-Jamison Fund,' which was 

 established for the advancement of geological science. After a prolonged 

 and very cordial companionship, in some cases extending for a period of 

 over thirty years, we have had ample opportunities of observing your 

 earnestness, perseverance, and zeal in the prosecution of your favourite 

 scientific studies, and the readiness with which you have placed the 

 results at the disposal of others. 



♦'We have profited by your teaching in the lecture room and in the 

 field, and we have always found you a careful and efficient guide, a ready 

 helper in our difficulties, and a most generous, courteous, and amiable 

 companion. We therefore rejoice to learn of the distinguished position 

 you have attained among the geologists of our time, and we earnestly 

 hope you may be spared in health and vigour to continue your studies 

 for many years to come, and still further benefit the world of science 

 by the results of your systematic researches." 



The Address bears the signatures of the officers for the year, as well as 

 the names of many of the members who were associated with Mr. Wright's 

 work in the past. The Address was spoken to by Wm. Gray, M.R.I. A. ; 

 A. Speers, B.Sc ; and F. W. Lockwood, and J. Vinycomb, M.R.I.A. ; and 

 was then presented to Mr. Wright by the President. Mr. Wright, in 

 reply, said : — 



" I feel it quite impossible to convey in words my feelings on the pre- 



