Geological Society. 443 



and it is on this principle that the popular opinion of the peculiar 

 fitness of Thames-water for being used at sea may be explained; 

 its extreme impurity inducing a sufficient degree of fermentation to 

 effect the removal of all those substances which might induce any 

 future renewal of that process. 



May 7. — Two papers were read : the first was entitled, " Expe. 

 rimental inquiries on the electric theories of galvanism," by William 

 Ritchie, M.A. F.R.S. : the second, " On the composition of the 

 chloride of barium," by Dr. Turner. 



May 14. — The remainder of Dr. Turner's paper on the com- 

 position of the chloride of barium, and a paper from the pen of 

 Dr. Spurzheim, on the organization of the brain, communicated by 

 Mr. Chenevix were read. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 

 Feb. 20. — At the annual general meeting of the Society held this 

 day, the President (Dr. Fitton) delivered the following Address 

 from the chair : 



Gentlemen of the Geological Society, 



You have heard in the report of your Council, that the favour of 

 the Government, through the cordial interference of the Royal 

 Society, has conferred upon us, since our last Anniversary, the 

 Apartments in which we have now the satisfaction of being assem- 

 bled. Having had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the 

 sentiments of the Council of the Royal Society upon this subject, 

 I am justified in assuring you, that the most anxious desire has 

 been expressed and acted upon by them, to promote the welfare 

 and advance the purposes of our Institution ; and 1 have the satis- 

 faction of adding, that the mark of approbation v/ith which the 

 Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have honoured us in this 

 instance, is supported by similar proofs of confidence in other de- 

 partments of the public service. 



The best return for these marks of approbation, will be to con- 

 tinue to promote the researches for which we are associated ; and 

 to render as useful as possible, to those who are engaged in the 

 study of Geology, the various sources of information afforded by 

 the collections and papers, which the liberality of your members and 

 other contributors has entrusted to your charge. The Council 

 has this day informed you of the measures which it considers eligi- 

 ble for these purposes ; and I need not remind the Fellows, that 

 the prosperity resulting from the exertions of our predecessors can 

 be upiicld only by the continued activity of tliose who Iiave leisure 

 to assist, periodically, in the current business of our institution. 



Among the members whom we have lost during the past year, 

 wc have had to regret the death of I\Ir. William I'liillips, who had 

 been for several years distinguished by his acquirements and pub- 

 lications on Mineralogy and (Jcology ; and whose name stands 

 very creditably prominent in the list of persons, fortunately nu- 

 merous in England, who, lliough constantly occupied in com- 

 merce, increase their own happiness, and promote useful know- 

 3 L 2 ledge, 



