354 



The Reports having been read, it was resolved : — 

 That these Reports be received and entered on the Minutes of the 

 Meeting, and that such parts of them as the Council may think fit, be 

 printed and distributed among the Fellows of the Society. 



The President then announced the award of the WoUaston Medal 

 and Proceeds for the past year 5 and, in doing so, said. 



Gentlemen, 

 You have learnt from the Report of the Council that the Wollaston 

 Medal has been awarded to Mr. Agassiz of Neuchatel for his work 

 on Fossil Ichthyology, and that the sum of 251. from the Donation 

 Fund has been awarded by the Council to Mr. Deshayes in promo- 

 tion of his labours in fossil conchology. I shall now proceed to re- 

 quest Mr. Broderip to communicate this adjudication to his friend 

 Mr. Agassiz, and I shall deliver in charge to our Foreign Secretary, 

 Mr. De la Beche, the sum which has been voted to Mr. Deshayes. 



The President then addressed Mr. Broderip in these words : — 



Mr. Broderip, 



I have great pleasure in requesting you to inform Mr. Agassiz, of 

 Neuchatel, that the Council of the Geological Society have awarded 

 the Wollaston Medal to him for his work of last year on Fossil Ich- 

 thyology. On a former occasion we presented the proceeds of the 

 Donation Fund for one year to the same distinguished naturalist, to 

 assist him in the publication of the early part of his great work, the 

 importance of which was then only beginning to be known to the 

 scientific world. 



It will ever be a subject of gratification to us to have learnt that 

 this small pecuniary aid was not without its influence in accelerating 

 the publication of his " Researches on Fossil Fish," arriving as it 

 did opportunely at a moment when the funds which could be appro- 

 priated for the undertaking were nearly exhausted. Mr. Agassiz 

 acknowledged at the time his obligation to us for a mark of 

 sympathy and regard which he received so unexpectedly from a 

 foreign country, and which cheered and animated him to fresh ex- 

 ertions. You will have the kindness to acquaint him that the 

 Council in now awarding the Medal to him, are desirous that he 

 should possess a lasting testimony of their esteem and of the high 

 sense which they entertain of the merit of his scientific labours. 



Mr. Broderip replied, — 



Sir — I accept the trust : and permit me, on the behalf of Pro- 

 fessor Agassiz, to offer his best thanks to the Society for the seal 

 which it has this day set on the powerful zoological lever which he 

 has placed in the hands of Geologists. 



This crowning gift will be doubly precious to him when he reflects 



