Geological Society of London. 183 



expedition sent out to the East by the Prussian Government to arrange commercial 

 treaties with China, Japan, and Siam. He was thus aiforded opportunities of turning 

 to account his power of rapid observation, of enlarging his geological experience, 

 and of meditating upon those problems to the solutiou of which he might devote his 

 life. We are all 'familiar with the brilliiiut series of papers and works which has 

 followed from the labours of the twelve years spent by him abroad. 



Crossing the Pacific he came in contact with Professor J. D. Whitney, who was 

 then conducting the Geological Survey of California. The young and eager German 

 was induced to settle for a time on the Pacific border of the American Continent, 

 where he devoted himself to the study of the marvellous volcanic phenomena of that 

 region. Among the contributions made by him to the geology of the United States, 

 his remarkable generalizations as to the order of succession of the volcanic rocks, and 

 the nature of ' massive eruptions ' have attracted special attention. 



What he had seen of China had convinced him that an investigation of its geology 

 would prove of the utmost interest and value. Accordingly, in the summer of 1868, 

 instead of turning homewards, he returned to that country, and spent somewhere 

 about three years in a series of journeys through the vast Celestial Empire, The 

 massive volumes and splendid atlas which contairf his account of China form one of 

 the most important contributions ever made to geological literature. In every 

 chapter there is some luminous remark or suggestive inference that lights up the 

 formidable array of facts with which the pages are crowded. The description of 

 the Chinese Loess and the manner in which the author works out his explanation 

 of that puzzling formation are a model of geological description. 



As a geologist, a scientific traveller, an exponent of facts, and a generalizer from 

 facts to their connecting cause, Baron von Richthofen stands in the forefront of 

 the science of our day, and in awarding him the Wollastou Medal this Society does 

 itself as much honour as it seeks to confer on him. Wlien you, Mr. Topley, transmit 

 this Medal to him and express to him our appreciation of his labours, will you also 

 convey to him our personal regard and our hope that he may long be able to continue 

 the work which has rendered his name so illustrious. 



Mr. ToPLBY, in reply, said : — Mr. president, — I am desired by Baron von 

 Eichthofen to express his extreme regret that important duties detain him in Berlin, 

 and render it impossible for him to be present here to day. 



He requests me to offer to this Society his warmest thanks for the honour now 

 conferred upon him, and for placing his name in the list of distinguished geologists 

 to whom this Medal has been awarded. 



In a letter which 1 have just received Baron von Richthofen says : — " If I were 

 personally present I would not fail to remark that I am deeply impressed by the 

 consciousness how unfavourably the humble work I have been able to accomplish 

 compares with the honour now conferred upon it ; and that it will be my endeavour 

 to render myself more worthy of it by never ceasing to work in the interests of 

 geological and, what is so nearly related to it, geographical science, my line of 

 research being indeed chiefly in that field where both these branches of science meet. 



"British geologists have had the largest share in the geological exploration of 

 other continents than Europe. It has been my lot, too, to do a chief part of my 

 work abroad. This common interest has, among others, contributed to connect me with 

 many of my fellow-workers in science in your country. It is a sincere gratification 

 to me to have this tie strengthened by being put under the obligation of gratitude 

 towards this illustrious Society in which the names of British geologists are 

 embodied." 



The feeling of gratification with which Baron von Richthofen will receive this 

 Medal, will, 1 am sure, be shared by the geologists in Germany and Austria. No 

 one is held in higher honour by them, both for personal worth and scientific attain- 

 ments, than Baron von Richthofen, and to no one would they more gladly see 

 this Medal awarded. 



The President then presented the Murchison Medal to Prof. A. 

 H. Green, M.A., P.R.S., addressing him as follows : — 



Professor Green, — In awarding to you the Murchison Medal, the Council desires 

 to mark its sense of the importance of the contributions which you have made to 

 our knowledge of English geology, more particularly in the Coaliield of Yorkshire, 

 with which your name will ever be honourably associated. It might not be appro- 

 priate were I to allow myself to dwell on the special value of your geological 



