AN ADDRESS 
Before the San Diego Academy of 
Geology, Mineral Resources and Paleontology of California. 
BY 
ANTHONY W. VOGDES 
In the early days the Science of Geology formed a part of Miner- 
alogy, and subsequently, Physical Geology. The earliest writer to dig- 
nify the science was Dr. Saussure, in the year 1778. This great ex- 
plorer of the Alps was the first to adopt a name for the science of Ge- 
ology, instead of the old name of Cosmology. 
The earliest account of the Geology of California, was that given 
by the Rey. William Buckland, in Beechey’s Narration of a Voyage to 
the Pacific and Behring’s Strait, in 1831. Dr. Buckland was born in 
Devonshire in 1784, and for many years held the chair of Geology at 
the University of Oxtord. He was the founder of the museum of Ge- 
ology of that University, and one of the founders of the Science of 
Geology. In the Volume on the Zoology, Dr. Buckland gives several 
references to the geology of the vicinity of San Franensco Bay, pre- 
pared from notes and collections of Lieut. Belcher, with a map of the 
headlands embracing San Francisco Bay. This early map indicates the 
several formations. Serpentine, sandstone, and jasper rocks are rep- 
resented. 
In the Geology of the Bay of San Francisco he gives an account 
of the Geology of San Francisco—with notes of the earthquakes in 
1806, also that of 1827. 
In the report of the Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Moun- 
tains in 1842, Captain Fremont gives a few geological notes on Cali- 
fornia. 
There are also notes regarding the geology of California in Em- 
ory’s Reconnaissance from Fort Leavenworth, to San Diego, Califor- 
