XI. 

 GEOLOGICAL REFOKM. 



"A great reform in geological speculation seems now to have become 

 necessary." 



"It is quite certain that a great mistake has been made, that British 

 popular geology at the present time is in direct opposition to the principles 

 of Natural Philosophy." 1 



IN reviewing the course of geological thought during 

 the past year, for the purpose of discovering those 

 matters to which I might most fitly direct your attention 

 in the Address which it now becomes my duty to deliver 

 from the Presidential Chair, the two somewhat alarming 

 sentences which I have just read, and which occur in 

 an able and interesting essay by an eminent natural 

 philosopher, rose into such prominence before my mind 

 that they eclipsed everything else. 



It surely is a matter of paramount importance for the 

 British geologists (some of them very popular geologists 

 too) here in solemn annual session assembled, to inquire 

 whether the severe judgment thus passed upon them by 

 so high an authority as Sir William Thomson is one to 

 which they must plead guilty sans phrase, or whether 

 they are prepared to say " not guilty ," and appeal for a 



4 



i On Geological Time. By Sir W. Thomson, LL.D. Transactions of the 

 Geological Society of Glasgow, roL iii. 



