70 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



Our Minutes, wMcli have been carefully kept for the half cen- 

 tury, and the attendance-books, which are still extant, contain a 

 most interesting record of the past. We can learn from them that 

 the subjects discussed at the evening meetings served to attract 

 and bring together, at one time or another, all those who have felt 

 an interest in the progress of geological research in Ireland. There 

 were many, too, who were perhaps more directly identified with 

 other branches of science ; still, by their presence at the meetings, 

 they conferred upon the Society a status and influence which were 

 widely felt at the time. 



Looking down that roll of past Presidents, there may be seen 

 the names of many men whose accomplished work has secured for 

 them a world-wide reputation, and among them, perhaps, I may 

 be permitted as a personal matter to refer to those to whose teach- 

 ing and encouragement I owe it, that twenty years ago I adopted 

 the career of a professional geologist. Drs. Hanghton and Apjohn 

 and Professor Jukes were my instructors here, and by Dr. Oldham 

 I was inducted into the duties of an Indian field geologist. It is 

 natural, therefore, that I should feel honoured at being appointed 

 as their successor, and it will be readily understood that I experi- 

 ence a very special gratification at being appointed to succeed the 

 structor of my earliest youth — my father, who exactly thirty years 

 ago, or in 1853, delivered the Presidential address. 



It would be wrong were I to conceal the fact that we are not 

 now in a prosperous condition. The Society has seen better days, 

 but let us hope not its best. Just at present, from whatever cause, 

 possibly from superior attractions afforded by other branches of 

 science, active interest in geology appears to exist only among a 

 limited number. 



We stand in need of more members who will not only, by their 

 subscriptions, place the Society in an improved position as regards 

 its means for meeting its requirements, but who will, by contribut- 

 ing Papers, enable us to produce a journal which, from its variety 

 and originality, will continue to prove acceptable and useful here 

 in Ireland, and will serve to increase the Society's reputation in 

 distant lands. 



The machinery exists, and is now in active operation, for ex- 

 changing our publications with those of the principal learned 

 societies all over the world, and we have the testimony of our 



