192 Proceedings of ill e BoycO Physical Society. 



Progress of Science. — Few persons, I think, will refuse to 

 assent to the remark that science and art have made great 

 progress within the last fifty years — far more rapid progress, 

 indeed, than during the preceding half-century. If I speak 

 of physical science alone, to which my observations will 

 chiefly apply, on inquiry we shall find, that the army of workers 

 and writers have multiplied since the earlier period of time at 

 least tenfold ; and if we examine their works and the Transac- 

 tions of the various scientific societies, and consult the numer- 

 ous science journals, it will be seen that the quantity and 

 quality of the work done is highly creditable to the workers, 

 and, with few exceptions, the papers form permanent records 

 of science conquered. Tens of thousands of facts have been 

 laid down, scientific stones, if I may so call them, wherewith 

 to build scientific edifices in all time. And what it is gratify- 

 ing to know is, that the supply of such facts, instead of dim- 

 inishing, is daily increasing. Lest it may be thought I speak 

 too generally, I shall give in detail some particulars regarding 

 the statistics of publication in the science department in 

 which I am myself more immediately interested, viz.. Geology, 

 under its various headings during the year 1874 : 



Works and papers on stvatigraphical and descriptive geology, . 800 



Do. on volcanic phenomena, ....... 52 . 



Do. on denudation and glacial phenomena, .... 55 



Do. on rock formation, 10 



Do. on cosmogony, 11 



Do. on applied and economic geology, 84 



Do. on petrology, 108 



Do. on meteorites, 19 



Do. on mineralogy, ........ 262 



Do. on palaeontology, ........ 407 



Maps and miseellaneons, ....... 243 



Making a total of . . . 2051 



treatises and papers published in the year mentioned. This 

 list comprises works printed in various parts of the globe, but 

 chiefly in Germany, France, America, and this country. 



I am indebted for the information here given to a most 

 useful annual, viz., the Geological Record, a work first pub- 

 lished in 1875. 



Tf this be the result in one branch of natural history only, 



