ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. XXlX 



history department of Geology. The economics of the science have, 

 it is true, received more than their usual share of attention, gold and 

 coal forming the themes of not a few volumes and essays. But 

 geology, properly so called, of a scientific character, is thinly diffused 

 through auriferous treatises, although a great deal is often v^ritten in 

 them about geology, — in the sense however of round about it. De- 

 scriptive Geology is constantly progressing, although the number of 

 memoirs in this department has not been great during 1853. Know- 

 ing how much is in progress in this most important section of the 

 science, we cannot regard the deficiency in the number of publications 

 upon it as any indication of halting. The same remark may be made 

 on the section of Geological Dynamics. Mineralogy, under its geo- 

 logical aspects is making decided progress in France and in America, 

 but, to our shame be it said, continues to be neglected in England. 

 There are numerous cultivators of it, it is true, for its own sake, 

 learned and able mineralogists, who however, on this side of the Tweed 

 at least, do not often put the results of their observations into print. 

 In Scotland and in Ireland the pens of the mineralogists are much 

 more active, and the investigation of mineral species ardently pursued, 

 though not to the extent that we find these inquiries followed in Ger- 

 many and the United States. 



In the course of study of the many lately-published memoirs from 

 which the materials of my Address are derived, the question of the 

 meaning of the difference and contrast that are evident when we 

 compare the faunas and floras of the more ancient or palaeozoic with 

 those of later epochs, has, in consequence of fresh accumulation of 

 relevant facts, forced itself vividly upon my attention. It is a sub- 

 ject that, in common with most geologists, I have often earnestly 

 thought over, and more than once published opinions upon. It has 

 been the originator of not a few theories and speculations, not one of 

 which can be said to have borne the test of searching inquiry into 

 facts. Yet I think I am not wrong in saying, that a belief is as 

 strongly impressed as ever on the minds of geologists who take 

 interest in the philosophy of their science, that some law lies at the 

 foundation of this difference. If I venture to add one speculation 

 more, although its predecessors have either subsided into azoic obli- 

 vion, or linger, retaining but a weak hold upon our minds, I do so in 

 the hope that there is a vitality in my offspring, which may enable 

 it, when it becomes developed, though as yet only a suggestion, to 

 endure ; and 1 ask your indulgence for introducing it on this occasion, 

 on the plea that it owes its birth to reflections arising out of this 

 discourse. 



The publication of the first volume of M. Barrande's great work 

 on the Silurian System of Bohemia is a leading event of the geo- 

 logical year just completed, and from its importance commands our 

 first attention. The researches, the results of which are embo- 

 died in this elaborate and beautiful treatise, were commenced twenty 

 years ago, but have been more especially prosecuted during the last 

 thirteen years. From time to time we have had more or less detailed 

 notices of the fruits of M. Barrande's assiduous labours, but could 



