137 



tively displayed along your Abberley and Malvern ranges as in any part of the 

 British Isles ! lu vain will you seek for this beautiful sequence in any part of the 

 continent of Europe, except partially in Bohemia. 



" To that spot, and to the isles of Gothland and those of the Bay of Christiana, 

 our British Upper Silurian is restricted. But there it is seen to be indissolubly 

 connected with Lower Silurian rocks, full of fossils, and the strata occupying 

 very small vertical dimensions. 



" Excuse me for venturing, as a sick man, to say even these words on the 

 analogy which your charming neighboiu-hood represents to that of other regions. 

 Permit me, however, to express my true deUght in seeing natural history in all 

 its branches flourish so efficiently as it does in and around the City of Worcester, 

 where my esteemed friend, Sir C. Hastings, is ever rendering aid with his fostering 

 hand, and where the dignitaries of the neighbourhood are prompt in supporting it. 



" When I read the names of so many friends, fellow-labourers, and associates, 

 as are announced to be present to-morrow, you may well beheve how truly I 

 deplore my absence. Unable to stand forth on the part of my own dear Wool- 

 hope Club, let me congratulate you on having the Malvern Club represented by the 

 Rev. W. Symonds, the Cotteswold Club by Lord Ducie, and the Worcestershire 

 Club by the Rev. Dr. Cradock ; and in respect to the first of these, as more 

 immediately connected with myself, I owe a deep debt of gratitude to my zealous 

 friend Mr. Symonds, for his lucid preparation of the Index of the work I now 

 lay upon your table. 



" When I was bold enough (r6 years ago) to bring to the mind's eye ot the 

 geologist, and in a period long after all Silurian days, a powerful marine current 

 running from the north and occupying the Straits of Malvern," as I then termed 

 them, I little thought that I should live to see my friends from the opposite shores 

 of former days — the Cotteswolds and the Malvems — now rivalling each other 

 in their search after truth, and in meeting together to record their advances in 

 this city, so ancient in the annals of our country, but which (the archaeologist 

 must not object to the phrase) was in one of the last geological epochs at the 

 bottom of the sea ! " 



A resolution was next passed, on the motion of Sir C. Hastings, seconded 

 by the Rev. J. Pearson, congratulating the meeting on the co-operation of the 

 field-clubs ; and after a vote of thanks to the Bishop, on the motion of Earl 

 Ducie. seconded by Mr. Ricardo, M.P., the business of the meeting terminated. 

 The members afterwards dined together. 



