Dr. John Evans's Address to Section C. 411 



British Association for the Advancement of Science. — 

 Dublin, August 15, 1878 — Address delivered to the Geological 

 Section. By John Evans, D.C.L., LL.D., F.E.S., F.G.S., etc.. 

 President of the Section. 



IN opening the proceedings of this Section, I cannot but call atten- 

 tion to the fact that the present is the third occasion on which 

 the British Association has met in this city, its first meeting here 

 having taken place in the year 1835, or forty-three years ago. On 

 that occasion, as indeed for many years afterwards, the two distinct, 

 though to some extent cognate branches of study. Geology and 

 Geography, were classed in the same Section, and its President was 

 a man of whom Irish science may well be proud, and who, I am 

 thankful to say, is still living to enjoy his well-deserved honours — 

 the veteran geologist. Sir Eichard John Griffith, the author of the 

 first Geological Map of Ireland. It seems hardly credible that the 

 construction of this map was commenced in the summer of 1812, or 

 sixty-six years ago ; but the records of the Geological Society of 

 London testify to the still more remarkable fact that Sir Eichard 

 Griffith was elected a Fellow of that Society in 1808, — seventy 

 years ago. Indeed, in 1854, when the Wollaston medal was 

 awarded to the then Dr. Griffith, the President, the late Professor 

 Edward Forbes, spoke as he said reverentially to one of the earliest 

 members of the Society, and to a geologist who appeared in print 

 before he, the President, was born. It was well said on that occasion 

 that the map lately mentioned was one of the most remarkable 

 geological maps ever produced by a single geologist ; and I make no 

 doubt that those who are at present engaged on the Geological 

 Survey of this island will testify, as did their predecessors, to the 

 value of this " surprising monument of observation and skill." 



"When speaking of the Geological Survey of Ireland, it will not, I 

 am sure, be thought out of place if I offer here a tribute of respect 

 to the memory of one who was originally a student in the College 

 within whose walls we are assembled, and who subsequently occu- 

 pied posts of the highest importance in connexion with the Geological 

 Society of Dublin and the Geological Survey of Ireland, besides filling 

 the Professorial Chair of Geology in this University : I mean Dr. 

 Thomas Oldham, the late Director of the Geological Survey of India. 

 With the marvellous amount of work which he was enabled to 

 accomplish in that country you are all acquainted, and you will all 

 share in the regret that the period of his well-earned retirement — 

 that " requies optimorum meritorum " — should have been so quickly 

 cut short by death. His name will, however, long survive, and 

 future students of geology will have no difficulty in recognizing the 

 distinguished labourer in their science after whom the Cambrian 

 Oldhamia of the Wicklow hills so worthily received its name. 



But to return to this Association. 



On the next occasion of its meeting in Dublin, in 1857, Section C. 

 had become devoted to Geology alone, and Geography was excluded, 



