Royal Cornwall Geological Society. 52S 



brief biographical slcetcli of Professor Sedgwick, who was one of the 

 honorary members of the Society, referring specially to the labours of 

 that great geologist in connexion with that county, together with Sir 

 Eoderick Murchison for the establishment of the Devonian system. 



From the list of contributing members there had also been lost the 

 name of Mr. J. T. H. Peter, of Chiverton. The death of Sir Edward 

 St. Aubyn had robbed the Society of the representative of one of the 

 oldest Cornish families, yet every member of the Society would feel 

 the satisfaction of his place in the county being so worthily filled by 

 his son. 



Mr. Smyth then turned to general topics. In his address of the 

 previous year he had directed attention to the important subject 

 of the utilization of the Society's collection of fossils. The ex- 

 cellent report prepared by Mr. Bettany, jun., made it clear that a 

 valuable series of collections had been accumulated chiefly by dona- 

 tions, but largely by special purchases, which, so long as they re- 

 mained packed in boxes, or closely stowed away pell-mell in drawers, 

 were practically useless. Until, indeed, they could on some definite 

 plan of arrangement be exhibited, the Society was not acting up to 

 what might be expected of its " name and fame." That reproach 

 had now to some extent been removed by a commencement, and as 

 it was notoriously le premier pas qui coute, they might hope that ere 

 long a much fuller display would minister to the attractions of the 

 fossil room. They had to thank Mr. Bettany, jun., for the gratuitous 

 services rendered in arranging a characteristic series in two of the 

 table cases, and might hope that he would be enabled to fulfil his 

 _promise with regard to the other two. The table cases, put in order,, 

 contained first — the groujDS of fossil organisms illustrative of the 

 Lower and Upper Silurian divisions, the Devonian and the Mountain 

 Limestone. These they should hope to see well supplemented by 

 additional examples, which would serve as standaixls of comparison 

 with those of the various Cornish fossiliferous localities which would be 

 exhibited in the cases not yet arranged. A moderate representation 

 of the Coal Measures was also given ; and there was a great fullness 

 of fossil forms of the Jurassic (the Oolite). Hence a little sketch of 

 palaeontology was placed before the eye, which, mere sketch as it 

 was at present, nevertheless enabled the Society to fulfil its duty of 

 aiding the student or general reader, whether among the members or 

 the general public, who in yearly increasing numbers visited the 

 collections. 



But the great object of the Society was undoubtedly minerals. 

 They were assembled in a district where tin-mining dated back 

 beyond tradition ; where smelting works poured their blue smoke 

 into the air; almost within sight of mines (Wheal Fortune and Wheal 

 Vor) where steam-engines were erected half a century before the time 

 of Watt, and his improvements, and they could not but give expression 

 to the anxiety with which the prospects of the mines must be re- 

 garded. There had been other periods of depression and alarm, which 

 had been successfully overcome. A memorial of the " gentlemen 



