Geological Society. 313 
allow me to discuss at present. Mr. Mammatt contends that these 
enormous shifts were not effected by volcanic convulsions, but simply 
by a quiet and uniform operation accompanying the desiccation, 
shrinking, and induration of dense masses of argillaceous and other 
rocks, an opinion which, however ingenious, seems irreconcileable 
with the evidence of violent disruption with which this and other 
coal-fields abound. Mr. Mammatt’s volume is illustrated by more 
than one hundred plates of fossil plants, but it is much to be re- 
gretted that before executing such costly illustrations the author did 
not obtain the assistance of a skilful botanist, who might have selected 
the most important and might have added descriptions, without which 
mere figures can scarcely ever convey accurate information. 
Early in the spring of last year an application was made by the Mas- 
ter General and Board of Ordnance to Dr. Buckland and Mr. Sedg- 
wick, as Professors of Geology in the Universities of Oxford and Cam- 
bridge, and to myself, as President of this Society, to offer our opi- 
nion as to the expediency of combining a geological examination of 
the English counties with the geographical survey now in progress. 
In compliance with this requisition we drew up a joint report, in 
which we endeavoured to state fully our opinion as to the great ad- 
vantages which must accrue from such an undertaking, not only as 
calculated to promote geological science, which would alone be a 
sufficient object, but also as a work of great practical utility, bear- 
ing on agriculture, mining, road-making, the formation of canals and 
rail-roads, and other branches of national industry. The enlight- 
ened views of the Board of Ordnance were warmly seconded by 
the present Chancellor of the Exchequer, and a grant was obtained 
from the Treasury to defray the additional expenses which will be 
incurred in colouring geologically the Ordnance county maps. This 
arrangement may justly be regarded as an economical one, as those 
surveyors who have cultivated geology can with small increase of 
labour, when exploring the minute topography of the ground, trace 
out the boundaries of the principal mineral groups. This end, how- 
ever, could only ke fully accomplished by securing the cooperation 
of an experienced and able geologist, who might organize and direct 
the operations: and I congratulate the Society that our F oreign 
Secretary, Mr. De Ja Beche, has been chosen to discharge an office 
for which he is so eminently qualified. 
At the same time that measures are thus in train for complet- 
ing a Geological Map of England on a magnificent scale, the Map 
of Scotland, by Dr. MacCulloch, which has been so long and im- 
patiently expected, is at length on the eve of publication. But at 
the moment when I can announce this welcome intelligence we 
have to deplore the sudden loss of this distinguished philosopher. 
The first paper in the first volume of our Transactions was from 
the pen of Dr. MacCulloch, and subsequent volumes contain no 
less than eighteen of his memoirs*. It would lead me far beyond 
* [Three of these papers by Dr. Macculloch will be found at large in Phil. 
Mag. First Series : viz. ‘¢ On the Sublimation of Silica,” in vol. lxiv. p. 441; 
“ On Staffa,” ibid. p. 445 ; and “ On certain Products obtained in the Di- 
stillation of Wood,” in vol. xlv. p. 203.] 
Third Series. Vol. 8..No. 47. April 1836. 2K 
