660 
fossils by Capt. T. Brown. I am glad to find that the shells deli- 
neated for the first time in this volume, and which occur in the 
lower red marls at Collyhurst near Manchester, are now admitted 
to be in beds, which are equivalents of the magnesian limestone, an 
opinion it will be recollected which was expressed when these fossils 
were first brought to our own halls by Professor Sedgwick and Mr. 
Phillips*, thus offering a fresh proof that with newly-discovered li- 
thological conditions, the same formation is often found to be diver- 
sified with remains unknown to us in the rocks of the same age 
which preserve their ordinary mineral charaeters. 
Of the still younger Geological Society of Dudley, I have sincere 
pleasure in saying, that its first anniversary festival, at which I was 
requested to deliver an inaugural address, was eminently successful 
in uniting together the gentlemen of property in the neighbourhood 
with practical miners and fossil collectors, and there can be no 
doubt that an establishment so supported, and which is founded on 
ground so replete with countless subterranean phenomena, must 
have an honourable and a useful career. I refer you to the excel- 
lent Report of the Dudley Provisional Committee, a perusal of which, 
whilst it acquaints you that their museum contains some unique 
specimens and many worthy of a visit, will convince you that it is 
directed by men of scientific discernment and zeal, who can well de- 
scribe and appreciate the value of such a collection, 
I rejoice in the formation of these provincial societies, being con- 
vinced that they will work out details of great ultimate value; and 
whatever may be the objections to free trade among nations, I have 
no hesitation in proclaiming the benefits of free trade in geology, 
because I know that our own volumes have risen in value, and | 
our ranks have swelled in numbers, with the birth and growth of 
our younger friends and rivals. 
FOREIGN GEOLOGISTS—PRUSSIAN SCHOOL. 
Let us now consider the progress which our science has been re-- 
cently making on the continent of Europe. 
The visit of the King of Prussia to our country upon the auspi- 
cious occasion arising out of the birth of our future Sovereign, was 
marked by an event most gratifying to our feelings. To’ testify to 
His Majesty your sense of his gracious and warm patronage of the 
cultivators of geology, and “to prove that English geologists can 
never forget the deep obligations they owe to the land which has 
produced a Humboldt, a Von Buch, and an Ehrenbergt,” you elected 
His Majesty a Fellow of the Society. The condescension with which 
His Majesty subscribed our obligation book, and the interest with 
which He examined our collections within these walls, will be remem- 
bered by us with just pride. Attended by the great philosophical 
* See Geol. Proceedings, vol. ii. p. 392, and Silurian System, p. 50. 
+ The above words were spoken by the President in admitting His Ma- 
jesty as a Fellow of the Geological Society. 
