ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. XXI 



if we look to the scale of nature, it is meagre indeed ; in fact my 

 labours must be considered only in the light of an outline and pre- 

 cursor, which may facilitate the labours of Sir Henry De la Beche 

 and his unrivalled corps of zealous and enlightened colleagues, who, 

 in the true spirit of English scientific honesty, will at all times award 

 the full meed of credit due to an antecedent labourer. 



In a work which has been forty years in hand, during which time 

 Geology has made such rapid strides, as might be expected, the first 

 outlines and divisions into systems have been frequently revised and 

 changed, and I may say, I have found it necessary to revisit every 

 district, nay nearly every parish, in Ireland at least three times. 



I may allude to the subdivisions of the Carboniferous system, from 

 the Old Red Sandstone, or Devonian, to the Coal-formation inclusive : 

 this system, originally given as one undivided suite, is at present sub- 

 divided into seven series, five belonging to the Carboniferous limestone 

 and two to the Coal. I now look back with wonder at the labour, 

 and perhaps danger in a scientific view, of attempting subdivisions, 

 some of which at the time were new to geologists. 



Next I may point to the subdivision, or at least attempted subdi- 

 vision of the Slate-series, formerly called Transition or Greywacke 

 slates, into Cambrian and Silurian, rendered necessary by the won- 

 drous labours of my friends. Professor Sedgwick and Sir Roderick 

 Murchison. 



But I fear and feel I am trespassing or valuable time, and shall 

 conclude by thanking you, Mr. President, for the very flattering 

 manner in which you have had the kindness to express yourself in 

 presenting to me the "Wollaston Medal. 



On presenting to S. P. Woodward, Esq., the Proceeds of the Wol- 

 laston Fund, the President addressed him as follows : — 



Mr. Woodward, — It is with no small pleasure that I announce 

 to you that the Council of the Geological Society have awarded to 

 you the proceeds of the Wollaston Fund for the present year. They 

 do so " in acknowledgement of the value of your recent Palseontolo- 

 gical labours, and to assist you in the publication of your researches 

 into the structure and affinities of Brachiopoda and Rudista." You 

 and I have worked together officially within these walls, and I know 

 well how thoroughly you have mastered the details and the generali- 

 ties of those branches of Palaeontology to which you have directed 

 your attention. Every naturalist Avho has made himself acquainted 

 with the admirable manner in which you have worked out the diffi- 

 cult paleeontological problem of the structure and affinities of the 

 Rudista, and how many anomalies have been definitely cleared away 

 by your labours, will be glad to hear of this award. We trust that 

 the results of your researches will before long be made accessible 

 through publication, and that you will continue to pursue a course 

 which is sure to gain you honourable fame and secure for you a high 

 position in the world of science, worthy of the son of one who did 

 much good service to British Geology in his time. 



