762 REPORT—1896. 
Section C.—GEOLOGY. 
PRESIDENT OF THE SEcTION—J.-E. Marr, Esq., M.A., F.R.S., Sec. G.S, 
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17. 
The President delivered the following Address :— 
TueE feelings of one who, being but little versed in the economic applications of 
his science, is called upon to address a meeting of the Association held in a large in- 
dustrial centre might, under ordinary circumstances, be of no very pleasant character; 
but I take courage when I remember that those connected with my native county, 
in which we are now gathered, have taken prominent part in advancing 
branches of our science which are not directly concerned with industrial affairs, 
I am reminded, for instance, that one amongst you, himself a busy professional 
man, has in his book on ‘The Origin of Mountain Ranges’ given to the world a 
theoretical work of the highest value; that, on the opposite side of the county, 
those who are responsible for the formation and management of that excellent 
educational institution, the Ancoats Museum, have wisely recognised the value of 
some knowledge of geology as a means of quickening our appreciation of the 
beauties of Nature ; and that one who has done solid service to geology by his 
teachings, who has kept before us the relationship of our science to that which is 
beautiful—l refer to the distinguished author of ‘Modern Painters’—has chosen 
the northern part of the county for his home, and has illustrated his teaching 
afresh by reference to the rocks of the lovely district around him, Noy can I help 
referring to one who has recently passed away—the late Sir Joseph Prestwich— 
the last link between the pioneers of our science and the geologists of the present 
day, who, though born in London, was of Lancashire family, and whom we may 
surely therefore claim as one of Lancashire’s worthies. With these evidences of 
the catholicity of taste on the part of geologists connected with the county, I feel 
free to choose my own subject for this address, and, my time being occupied to a 
large extent with academic work, I may be pardoned for treating that subject in 
academic fashion. As I have paid considerable attention to the branch of the 
science which bears the somewhat uncouth designation of stratigraphical geology, 
I propose to take the present state of our knowledge of this branch as my theme. 
Of the four great divisions of geology, petrology may be claimed as being 
largely of German origin, the great impetus to its study having been given by 
Werner and his teachings, Paleontclogy may be as justly claimed by the French 
nation, Cuvier having been to so great an extent responsible for placing it upon 
a scientific basis. Physical geology we may partly regard as our own, the principles 
laid down by Hutton and supported by Playfair having received illustration from 
a host of British writers, amongst whom may be mentioned Jukes, Ramsay, and 
