355 



on the high character of those who have awarded it, and hears of 

 the expressions with which you^ Sir, have been pleased to accom- 

 pany it. 



These, he will feel, are the incentives 



" that the clear spirit do raise 

 To spurn delights and live laborious days." 



He will look upon the illustrious head that gives dignity to the 

 gold — upon the representation of "that dark eye" before whose 

 glance as it has been eloquently said by one of your predecessors, 

 all false pretensions withered — and the sight will inspire him 

 with new energies. 



The President then addressed Mr. De la Beche in these words :.^- 



Mr. De la Beche, 



It is now my duty to deliver into your hands as Foreign Secretary 

 of this Society the sum of25L, and it is with great satisfaction that I 

 request you to inform Mr. Deshayes of Paris that this portion of 

 the proceeds of the Wollaston Donation Fund has been awarded to 

 him by the Council for the promotion of his labours in Fossil Con- 

 chology. I beg that you will express to Mr. Deshayes at the same 

 time how highly we appreciate the services which he has already 

 rendered to Geology by his description of the fossil shells of the 

 strata above the chalk, to which he has chiefly, although not exclu- 

 sively, devoted his attention ; and we rejoice to hear that he is now 

 engaged in the investigation of the fossil shells of the older for- 

 mations. 



We are not ignorant that he has prosecuted his scientific studies 

 with zeal and enthusiasm under circumstances of considerable dif- 

 ficulty ; and we trust that the notice thus taken of his labours may 

 encourage him to persevere in devoting the powers of his mind and 

 his great acquirements to a department of science so eminently 

 subservient to the advancement of Geology. 



Mr. De la Beche on receiving the donation expressed the plea- 

 sure which it gave him to be requested to communicate the intelli- 

 gence to Mr. Deshayes, and the satisfaction which he felt in pub- 

 licly avowing his approbation of the award of the Council. 



It was afterwards resolved : — 



1 . That the thanks of this Society be given to Roderick Impey 

 Murchison, Esq. and Henry Warhurton, Esq. retiring from the office 

 of Vice-President. 



2. That the thanks of this Society be given to George William 

 Aylmer, Esq. ; Arthur Kett Barclay, Esq. ; John Henry Vivian, Esq. ; 

 Sir Richard Vyvyan, Bart. ; and the Rev. James Yates, retiring from 

 the Council. 



2 2 



