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Ordinary Meeting, November 14th, 1871. 



E. W. BiNNEY, F.RS., F.G.S,, President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Watson Smith, Jun., F.C.S., was elected an Ordinary 

 Member of the Society. 



The President said that the Society had lately lost by 

 death one of its most distinguished Honorary Members, 

 {Sir K J. Murchison, Bart., a geologist of world-wide reputa- 

 tion. He had enjoyed the privilege of Sir Roderick's 

 friendship for over thirty-five years, and he could fully 

 confirm all that had been stated in the public prints of the 

 deceased's great scientific attainments, his liberal patronage 

 of science, and his kind and good heart ; but there was one 

 quality, namely, that of learning to the last and being ever 

 ready to alter his views as new facts were discovered, that, 

 in his opinion, had not been sufficiently noticed. For many 

 years he (the President) and Sir Roderick had held different 

 views as to the geological age of certain rocks in Yorkshire, 

 and latterly, on more careful examination of the district by 

 the officers of the Geological Survey, the latter changed his 

 opinion. Immediately on their doing so he wrote as 

 follows : — 



" Belgrave Square, 4th June, 1869. 

 ''' Dear Binney, 



" My geological surveyors have, I understand, come to 

 the conclusion (though nothing has yet been published on it) 

 that the Plumpton Rocks, near Knaresborough, belong to a 

 well-defined band of the Millstone Grit Series, 



" I have mislaid and cannot find your paper in which you 

 expressed the same opinion, in opposition to the views of 



Peoceedings— Lit. & Phil. Soc— Yol. XI.— No. 3.— Session 1871-2. 



