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fully employed in endeavouring to add to the stores of descriptive 

 geology, than in these abstruse and difficult investigations, yet we 

 must always receive, with great pleasure, any communications con- 

 taining real advances in the mathematical dynamics of geology, from 

 those whose studies and whose powers enable them to lay an effectual 

 grasp upon these complex and refractory problems. 



I have but a single word to add in conclusion. This Society has 

 always been an object of my admiration and respect, not only from 

 the importance and range of its scientific objects, the wide and exact 

 knowledge which it accumulates, the philosophical spirit which it 

 calls into play, the boundless prospect of advance which it offers ; 

 but also for the manner in which its meetings and the intercourse of 

 its members have ever been conducted ; the manly vigour of discus- 

 sion, tempered always by mutual respect and by good manners ; the 

 deep interest of all in the prosperity of the Society, to which, whenever 

 the hour of need comes, private differences of opinion and resent- 

 ments have given way. To be placed for a time at the head of a 

 body which I look upon with such sentiments, I must ever consider as 

 one of the greatest distinctions which can reward any one who gives 

 his attention to science. I trust, by your assistance and kind sym- 

 pathy, gentlemen, I shall be able to preserve the spirit and temper 

 which I so much admire ; — to hand that torch to my successor 

 burning as brightly as it has hitherto done. And there is one con- 

 sideration which will make me look with an especial satisfac- 

 tion upon such a result. I have not myself the great honour of being 

 one of the members of the Society who are connected with it by an 

 early interest in its fortunes, and by long participation in its labours. 

 I may consider myself as only belonging to its second generation. 

 Now if there be a critical and a perilous time in the progress of a volun- 

 tary association like ours, it is when its administration passes out of 

 the hands of its founders into those of their successors. It is like that 

 important and trying epoch when the youth quits the paternal roof. I 

 will say however, gentlemen, for myself and for my fellow-officers, 

 some of whom are in the same condition, that our best cares shall not 

 be wanting that the Society may suffer as little as possible by this 

 change. And among our grounds for hope and trust, the main one 

 is this : that though the offices of the Society may be in younger 

 hands, the parental cares of its founders are not withdrawn. We 



