Reports and Proceedings — Geological Society of London. 183 



of our warmest wishes for a long continuance of the mental and bodily activity which 

 he has so unsparingly devoted to the interests of our science. 



Mr. Teal), in reply, read the following translation of a letter 

 which had been forwarded by the recipient : — 



' ' I much regret that my duties here make it impossible for me to be present 

 at your annual meeting, and that I am therefore unable in person to express my 

 thanks for the honour which you are conferring upon me. 



" It may perhaps interest you to know the circumstances which led me to turn my 

 attention to geology. When, at the age of nine years, I visited the Alps for the 

 first time, in company with my father, the mountains appealed to my youthful 

 imagination, and I then conceived the idea of representing them not only on paper 

 but also in relief. I accordingly attempted to model them in clay, working at first 

 directly from nature, and afterwards by the aid of the topographic maps which 

 were then appearing. I soon found that one can only represent correctly that which 

 one understands, and I was thus led to study the internal structure as well as the 

 external form of the mountains. 



' ' At the age of sixteen years I had prepared a model of the Todi group on a scale 

 of 1 : 25,000. Arnold Escher von der Linth heard of this model, and came to see it 

 at my own home. This was the first time that I saw that illustrious man. He 

 invited me to accompany him on a geological excursion, and from that time onward 

 I looked up to him as my revered master. Thus the pleasm-e which I derived from 

 my early visits to the mountains and my desire to represent them in relief led me 

 naturally to the study of geology. 



' ' In receiving this high honour at your hands, I remember with heartfelt 

 gratitude the instruction and encom-agement that I have derived from a study of the 

 literature and geology, and especially from personal intercourse with the fellow- 

 workers, of the great nations which lie beyond my own small fatherland. Among 

 these I reckon the British Empire as especially deserving of my gratitude. More 

 than 35 years ago I derived inspiration as a student from a study of the works 

 of Sir Charles Lyell, and since that time have continued to hold intercourse with 

 British geologists — many of them Fellows of your Society — and to study their 

 writings and collections. 



" I am conscious that my work is very imperfect, and that in it error is mixed 

 with truth. My life is unfortunately so overburdened with official and private 

 duties that I have but little time for original research ; yet I am filled with an 

 earnest desire to do more, for I recognise that in such research is to be found the 

 greatest happiness that human life can afford. 



" It seems to me that the work which I have accomp fished does not entitle me to 

 this honour. I prefer rather to regard it as the recognition of a sincere efl'ort to 

 extend our knowledge, and I can assm-e you that, so far as in me lies, the remainder 

 of my life shall be devoted to this object. You have given me a fresh stimulus — 

 a new encouragement. I thank you from the bottom of my heart." 



The Chairman then presented the Mnrcliison Medal to Professor 

 George Alexander Lebour, M.A., M.Sc, addressing him in the 

 following words : — Professor Lebour, — 



The Council have this year awarded to you the Murcliisou' Medal, in recognition of 

 the importance of your contributions to om- knowledge of the Carboniferous and other 

 rocks of the North of England. For thu-ty years you have been engaged in these 

 researches, which have resulted in more accurate determinations of the stratigraphy 

 of the Carboniferous System of Northumberland, and more satisfactory correlations 

 of the various divisions of that system throughout the northern counties. In 

 conjunction with Mr. Topley you brought forward convincing evidence that the 

 famous Whin Sill is an intrusive sheet, and not, as some observers had supposed, an 

 intercalated lava. Your papers on the salt-measui'os and on the Marl Slate and 

 Yellow Sands of yoiu: district have likewise added to our knowledge of these 

 formations. TMs original work, however, has for many years been carried on in 

 the intervals of a life primarily devoted to the teaching of geology, and we wish 

 to mark our sense of the value of your educational labours as a Professor in the 

 University of Durham. As one who in former days served under IMurchison, you 

 will doubtless value this medal as another link connecting you with that great 



