378 Geological Society. 



to modern geologists — the evidence derived from organic remains, 

 the very key-stone of our fabric, being either slightly touched upon, 

 or its value derided. It is, however, a matter of notoriety among 

 working geologists, that even within the limited field of this 

 author's personal observation, a specific acquaintance with such re- 

 mains has alone been the means, and this within the last five years, 

 of fixing the ages of the secondary deposits in the Hebrides and 

 around the shores of the Highlands of Scotland. Had Dr. Macculloch 

 read the Geological Transactions, published within the anathema- 

 tized period, he must have been made conscious of the truth of 

 this statement. 



It is indeed by the help of zoological distinctions that modern 

 geology has been carried onwards far beyond the original scope of 

 certain earlier observers, who now seem to feel regret that they can 

 no longer confine it within those mineralogical barriers with which 

 they had endeavoured to surround it. I shall not, however, longer 

 occupy your time with detailed criticisms of the parts of this system ; 

 though 1 must be permitted to advert to two sentences. The first 

 of these is a pointed sarcasm, describing as a person " preferring 

 ancient ignorance to modern truth," that accomplished philosopher, 

 the author of the Geologv of England and Wales, whose election as 

 a Corresponding Member of the Institute of France has been hailed 

 with gratitude by every English geologist. Yet it is to this very work 

 of the author so stigmatized, that Dr. Macculloch himself actually 

 refers his readers for zoological information*, — a reference the more 

 remarkable, inasmuch as the authority so cited was produced within 

 that time which Dr. Macculloch characterizes as the period of 

 darkness. — The other sentence is to be found in the title-page, which 

 declares, that this system is followed by an " f>xplanation of the 

 connexion of a theory of the earth vvith the sacred records." In the 

 face of this assertion, the work itself goes distinctly to prove the 

 entire r/isconnexion of our science with the inspired writings, — a 

 point, however, on which the author can claim no originality j as 

 the same doctrine was several years ago dwelt upon most energeti- 

 cally by the Rev. Dr. Fleming, who has been followed by other 

 writers, and by no one more eloquently or more conscientiously, 

 than by our President on the occision of the last Anniversary. 



Finally, if there be any geological student who should have been 

 led away by the assertions contained in the prefiice to this "System," 

 let him reflect, that our present line of research has received the ap- 

 proving stamp of a Wollaston ; and that still more recently, we have 

 been urged onwards by ttie cheering encomium of a Herschel, who in 

 his Discourse on Natural Philosophy has told us " that in the magni- 

 tude and sublimity of the objects of which it treats, geology ranks 

 next to astronomy, and that at length it is brought eft'ectually within 

 the list of the inductive sciences." 



I would now call your attention to the establishment of nu- 

 merous Provincial Scientific Institutions, for further proofs of that 

 general and increasing taste for natural knowledge, which is spread- 



* Vol. ii. [>. 243. 



ing 



I 



