514 Geological Society: Anniversary Address, 1843. 
first appearing in small numbers in a pre-existing period, are now 
attaining their maximum of numerical developement. 
Such discoveries, Gentlemen, are most important to the progress 
of true induction ; and when these researches of Mr. Forbes are pre- 
sented to you in extenso, as is his intention, each of us will, I doubt 
not, find in them some illustration of the stony deposits with which 
we are more familiar. 
I may well, therefore, congratulate the Society on having ob- 
tained the services of such a naturalist as Mr. Forbes, of whom it 
has been said by a distinguished foreign contemporary, that “ his 
anatomical knowledge, the accuracy of his thought, and the vigorous 
precision with which he can estimate the minute differences on which 
the distinction of species depends, render him a worthy successor of 
Mr. Lonsdale, and ensure to us that he will render important services 
to the advancement of Geological Science*”’. 
Having spoken of those changes in the Society which have taken 
place through the demise of Members and through official changes, I 
now proceed toconsider the progress of our Science, not merely within 
the British Isles, but also, as far as I am able, in other parts of the 
world to which geological researches have been extended. In so 
doing I shall follow the arrangement of last year, and treat of the 
rocks of each country in the order of their antiquity, commencing 
with the most ancient. First dwelling upon the British Isles, I will 
next advert to Russia, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, Turkey and the 
Alps, and then in succession to works upon America, the East In- 
dies and Egypt; and after an analysis of the recent progress in 
Palzontology, I will take leave of you with a brief résumé of the 
principal geological results. 
PALZZOZOIC ROCKS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 
Silurian Rocks.—In the Address of last year I plainly expressed 
my belief, founded not merely on researches in the British Isles, but 
also on examinations of large portions of the Continent, that the 
Lower Silurian group contained the most ancient fossiliferous type. 
This view now rests upon still firmer support, established by the 
labours of our geologists at home, and the doubts respecting the 
true zoological base of the Paleozoic rocks have been entirely dis- 
pelled. In South Wales this point has been worked out with extra- 
ordinary fidelity of research, founded both on geometrical measure- 
ments and a close search after fossils; and to these investigations I will 
presently advert, when speaking of the labours of Sir Henry de la 
Beche and his assistants of the Ordnance Geological Survey. 
In illustration of the structure of the Lake Country of the North 
of England, Professor Sedgwick has recently given a short sketch 
in three letters addressed to Mr. Wordsworth; and I beg you to 
consult this little work, which is embodied in a Guide to the Lakes 
published by his friend the celebrated poet, both as a specimen of 
the author's vigorous style of communicating popular geological 
knowledge, and to obtain from it a clear general perception of the 
* Professor Agassiz, Letter to Mr. Murchison. 
