574- Geological Society : Anniversary Address, 18^2. 



system, which we shall endeavour to place in parallel with its equi- 

 valents in Germany and the British Isles, by showing its place in 

 the order of superposition, and by describing the fauna and flora by 

 Avhich it is characterized as a distinct type intermediate between the 

 Carboniferous and Triassic systems. 



FRENCH SCHOOL. 



From the northern parts of Europe let us now pass to tlie consider- 

 ation of the chief points of progress which our opposite neighbours 

 are making. The publication of the splendid geological map of 

 France, executed by Messieurs Elie de Beaumont and Dufrenoy, 

 is indeed a subject of gratulation for the scientific men of all coun- 

 tries. Commenced in 1 827, the map would have appeared five or 

 six years earlier, had not the engraving of it led to unexpected 

 delays. The part surveyed by each author is easily defined. France 

 was divided by a line, proceeding from Havre, through Alen^on, 

 Avallon, Lyons, and Marseilles, to the Mediterranean. The western 

 part was assigned to M. Dufrenoy, and the eastern to M. de Beau- 

 mont ; but eacli was empowered to extend his observations, not 

 only beyond tlie line of division, but also into those parts of the 

 neighbouring countries which are included within the limits of the 

 map. 



The authors pursued their researches separately for several years, 

 but as soon as they had settled the bases of classification they united 

 to survey those points which required their conjoint examination, 

 and by this means they finally established a perfect agreement in 

 all the parts of their great undertaking. During the last five or six 

 years, since the main features of the map were completed, tlie re- 

 sults have been communicated to every geologist who sought in- 

 formation; as I myself have experienced in my visits to Paris ; and 

 the authors, accepting in the mean time the contributions of others, 

 have brought the map to its present degree of perfection. 



Wishing to popularize geology in France, and to give their la- 

 bours an extended sphere of usefulness. Messieurs de Beaumont and 

 Dufrenoy have puJalished, with the first volume of explanations 

 which accompanies the large map, one on a reduced scale, giving an 

 exact idea of the disposition of the mineral masses, and facilitating 

 the comprehension of the admirable descriptive memoirs contained 

 in the volume. 



A desire has been often expressed, as you know, that all geolo- 

 gists might come to an understanding on the choice of colours, so 

 that geological maps might be a sort of book written in a universal 

 language. This idea, as our own great geological geographer Mr. 

 Greenough has found, is more plausible in theory than practicable. 

 In the selection oi' their colours, I confess, I regret that our foreign 

 associates have not employed the normal colours used in the map of 

 England, but then we must recollect that the principle of their co- 

 louring was decided and j)ut into execution long before the publi- 

 cation of Mr. (irconougli. The authoi-s of tiie French work have 

 however done well in giving one colour only to each great natural 



