the Woolhope Club, has been extinguished. The Rev. Canon and Professor Adam 

 Sedgrwick, at the ripe age of 87. His fame and achievements as a great British Geologist 

 are of world-wide recognition, and require no comment. It seems to be within the fitness 

 of things human and scientific, that the two eminent philosphers who combined their labours 

 for the erection on a solid foundation of the Silurian and Cambrian systems, respectively 

 their greatest trophies, should in the maturity of age, in the fulness of fame, leave almost 

 together the scene of their long and successful labours. 



One word of advice before we part. At the close of my former term of office 1 took 

 occasion to lay some stress on what I conceived to be failures due to faulty organisation 

 or management of our excursions. I feel the less hesitation in returning to the charge 

 because the term just concluded has not been free from the same errors, due in one or 

 two instances, doubtless, to my own laxity and deficient foresight. The weather is not at 

 our o^vn command, and it is not often that we can prevail on the railway officials to go 

 out of their way to serve us ; but there are certain conditions, paramount to the success 

 of our expeditions, which are perfectly imder our control. I allude more particularly to 

 the following : — A judicious choice of localities ; a careful preliminary survey by officers 

 and volunteers of the features of the scene selected ; a well-digested programme of the 

 contemplated proceedings, embracing no nwre work than can be fully and easily gone 

 through in the time allowed ; a strict and almost tyranical adherence to the programme, 

 permitting no afterthought or diversion to lead companies away from the main body, no 

 scattering or dallying when the march onwards is called by the leaders of the expedition ; 

 finally, compliance with the request, ever made but too seldom observed, to give timely 

 notice to the Assistant Secretary of intention to join the excursion, dinner, &c., of the 

 day. I attach some importance to these recommendations, because they are the fruit of 

 long experience and observation. Whenever such conditions have been adhered to, the 

 Field meetings have been successful even in bad weather ; when they have been over- 

 looked or neglected, no sunny smOes have counterbalanced disappointment and annoy- 

 ance. 



There is nothing more left for me but, with regret, not unmixed with a feeling of 

 relief, to resign the office you have entrusted to me. Regret, because it is to me great 

 honour and pleasure to perform the duties of President over a society comprising so many 

 who, held together by a loving search after truth, are in every other sense worthy of my 

 highest esteem and respect. Relief, because I feel keenly that my work lias been but a 

 slovenly performance at best. All that I can pretend to is the anxious desire to help in 

 promoting the success of the club, and the enjoyment of every member of it. My very 

 limited allowance of talent and of leisure must baffle my attempt, let ray earnestness be 

 what it may. Regret and relief are more than outweighed by hope for a good time 

 coming, when my successor and his lineal descendants shall lead you to " fresh fields and 

 pastures new," redeeming by successful achievements, in a long succession of years, the 

 failures of the past. 



Members elected during the year 1872 :— The Rev. G. Bright Bennett, Hereford ; J. 

 F. Symonds, Esq., Hereford; E. H. Greenly, Esq., Titley, Kington; A. D. Berrington, 

 Esq., Pant-y-goitre House, Abergavenny; Colonel Byrde, Goitre House, Pontypool ; E. 

 Colt Williams, Esq., Hereford ; the Rev. F. L. Stooke, Wellington Heath, Ledbury ; A. O. 

 Crutwell, Esq. ; William Henry Lloyd, Esq., Thomas Clifton Paris, Esq., Hereford. 



