635 
that ill health alone has prevented so distinguished a man of letters 
~ from honouring us with his presence, I rejoice that no geologist is 
better qualified than yourself to be the medium of communication 
with our great associate, for no one among us is more intimately ac- 
quainted with those researches of M. de Buch on which his chief 
fame rests. Express to him, I beg, our heartiest wishes for the eon- 
tinuanee of his good health, and that he may long live to call forth 
from us proofs of the deep sense we entertain of the value of his 
labours. 
Mr. De la Beche, on receiving the Medal, expressed the great, 
gratification it afforded him, that his office of Foreign Secretary 
rendered him the channel through which the Wollaston Medal was 
to be transmitted to the distinguished geologist to whom it has this 
year been awarded. The works of Von Buch, he observed, are teo 
well known and appreciated to require notice; they have most ma- 
terially assisted in the great advance which geology has made, and 
recent publications have proved that his love of science was as ardent 
as ever, and that the importance of the labours in which he was en- 
gaged was undiminished. 
On presenting the proceeds of the Wollaston Fund to Mr. Morris, 
the President addressed him as follows :— 
Mr. Morris, 
The Council of the Geological Society have awarded to you the 
proceeds of the Wollaston Fund during the past year, to assist you 
in preparing for publication a table of British Organic Remains, in 
which you have been for some time engaged, and which, from the 
specimens laid before us, we believe will be of very great service in 
promoting the accurate study of Geology. The value of the table 
of the late Mr. Woodward has been acknowledged; but his prema- 
ture death having prevented him from enlarging its sphere as our 
science advanced, a new and much more comprehensive work has 
been urgently demanded. Tam happy that the task of meeting our 
wants has been undertaken by one well qualified, like yourself, by 
diligent research and a competent acquaintance with Natural His- 
tory ; whilst in thus consulting your own wishes, the Council of the 
Geological Society is persuaded that they are acting in the very 
spirit of Wollaston’s bequest, not treasuring uw) money parsimoni- _ 
ously, but expending it liberally upon the very fitting occasion which - 
your ability and research have called forth. 
To which Mr. Morris replied,— 
Srr,—I cannot sufficiently express my grateful thanks to the So- 
ciety for the unexpected compliment that has this day been conferred 
has aetuated the Council in awarding to one almost unknown to 
them, this honourable testimonial of their approbation, and not less 
flattering to me, Sir, is your kind and courteous manner in com- 
municating the same; and I trust that my efforts for the promotion 
of geological science, which haye already entailed upon me so many 
