51 



other hands, and on more suitable occasions, have been frequently 

 attended with advantage. 



We have had since our last Anniversary to regret the loss of one of 

 our foreign members. Mr. Brocchi, whose death, according to the 

 accounts we have received, took place in Egypt, whither he had been 

 invited to discharge the duties of a mining Engineer, is distinguished 

 in the recent scientific history of Italy by numerous contributions to 

 the Geology of that country ; — and his principal work "On the Fossil 

 Conchology of the Subapennine Hills," abounds in valuable obser- 

 vations, and in proofs of accuracy and acuteness in the comparison 

 of the fossil and existing species. His talents, however, were not 

 merely those of an observer ; — his general views were always wide 

 and philosophic ; and the style of his writings is considered by com- 

 petent judges as remarkable for its purity and good taste. But those 

 only, who have had the pleasure of being personally acquainted 

 with Mr. Brocchi, could appreciate his patriotism and philanthropy, 

 the variety of his acquirements, and the spirit and eloquence which 

 rendered his conversation more than commonly instructive. 



The printed " Proceedings" of the Society, and the portion of the 

 Transactions published within the year, are the best records of our 

 contributions to geological science during that period : and the vo- 

 lume now in progress will, I trust, be found to have contributed in 

 no small degree to the advancement of inductive Geology. New 

 monsters, it is true, have not been brought to light from the depths of 

 our strata ; nor has Zoology been enriched with new genera, by such 

 rare coincidences of genius and good fortune as distinguish the last 

 volume of our Transactions : but the Geology of England has been 

 illustrated by various memoirs, on tracts not previously examined ; 

 and by more exact and extended researches on portions of our strata, 

 the general relations of which had been before determined. Cor- 

 rect data have thus been recorded, to which inquirers in other coun- 

 tries may refer, for the purpose of comparison with their own. 



I have to congratulate you upon the progress which has been 

 made in the Trigonometrical survey of Ireland ; a work designed 

 with all the skill of modern science, and committed for the execution 

 to such hands, and with such instruments, as to leave no doubt of the 

 result. Maps alone, such as this survey will produce, are an acqui- 

 sition of the first importance to our inquiries ; since they form one of 

 the chief and indispensable instruments of geological research : — but 

 with these, in the present case, will be connected a series of obser- 

 vations more strictly geological, which cannot fail to throw great light 



