46 The " Coming-of-Age " of the Geological Magazine. 



I do but echo their sentiments when I wish it and its editor a lon°- 

 and prosperous lite. 



But this. Dr. Woodward, is not the only service that you have 

 rendered to science. It is possible for an editor to nip early aspirations 

 in the bud and to petrify the neophyte in science by a cold breath 

 of disapproval or sarcasm. All. however, who, like myself, have 

 made in the pages of the Geological Magazine their first venture 

 in scientific authorship, will be ready to testify to the kind welcome 

 and friendly encouragement which we received from you. Many, 

 I feel sure, have thus been animated to further efforts : so that you 

 may with just pride assert that under your auspices the Geological 

 Magazine has enlisted many recruits for the great army of scientific 

 workers^ Yet more, not only in its pages, but also at your place 

 in the British Museum, you have been ever ready to help the student, 

 and to place at his disposal, with unvarying kindness and courtesy, 

 the full stores of your ripe knowledge. This work, so far as the 

 Geological Magazine is concerned, you have done, in reality, if 

 not in name, at your own cost. The small sum assigned to you as 

 Editor— inadequate at the best as a return for your labours, has 

 frequently heen consumed by expenses which you have incurred to 

 increase — I had almost said to maintain— its efficiency. In this 

 wealthy country those who labour on behalf of science, especially 

 in regard to its literature, must generally be content to do it at 

 their own cost. You have done this ungrudgingly for so lon^ a 

 time, though, as the chief bread-winner of a family, you might justly 

 have excused yourself from so unremunerative a task. 



The sum of money which, on behalf of the Subscribers, I have the 

 pleasure of placing in your hands is no discharge of the debt which 

 is clue to you from Geologists, but it may suffice to prevent you 

 from feeling that the members of your household have been serious 

 losers by your zeal for the progress of Science ; and in asking you 

 to accept this small present of plate, your friends, for whom I 

 speak, wish to leave with you a more visible memorial of their 

 respect and regard. They trust it will remind yourself and the 

 helpmate who has shared your labours — remind you both, we trust, 

 for many years to come— that we were not wholly ungrateful! 

 But, even when the call tb cease from work has sounded for those 

 chiefly interested in the friendly gathering of to-day, this little 

 memorial may avail to show your children how much their father 

 was esteemed, and may nerve them to emulate the example of their 

 parents." 



Dr. Woodward in reply said : — 



"Prof. Bonney and Gentlemen — 



"Words are but feeble vebicles in which to convey tbe warm feelings that rise in 

 my mind to-day, and strive for utterance in response to tbe eloquent eulogium you 

 have just delivered; and when I look at tbe munificent testimonial you have 

 presented to me, I am at a loss to conceive how my poor exertions as Editor of tbe 

 Geological Magazine can have been deemed worthy of so high a recoo'nition. 



Of one thing I feel assured that I owe very much to the kind words which you, 



