XX PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Society in 1845. Nature presents to us, along the southern coast of 

 that island, one of the most perfect sections we possess for the study 

 of those two great operations of deposition and uphea^^al by which so 

 many parts of the earth's surface have been affected. You have 

 availed yourself of the facilities which this natural section affords to 

 describe it in accurate detail between the points above-mentioned ; 

 and you have also given us the most complete list we possess of the 

 Lower Green Sand fossils of that locality, with a tabular arrangement 

 of them which presents at once the clearest view of their stratigra- 

 phical distribution. By means of this beautiful section, combined 

 with some of your previous observations, you have been enabled 

 clearly to point out to us the true relations and the close resemblance 

 between the lower beds of the Lower Green Sand and the Terrain 

 neoco?men of continental geologists, and to correct the error into which 

 some of them had fallen in supposing the latter beds the equivalent 

 of the Wealden beds of our own country. 



In conclusion let me congratulate you on this recognition of your 

 geological labours by those with whom you have been so long asso- 

 ciated. I can scarcely help regarding this award as the realization 

 of a hope which we may so easily conceive to have sometimes arisen 

 in the mind of the illustrious founder of the Medal, that it might be- 

 come, as it is become this day, the means of conferring well-merited 

 honour on one of his old associates, to whose zeal and earnestness in 

 the prosecution of geological research he must himself have been able 

 to bear such ample testimony. 



Dr. Fitton replied, — 



Sir, — It is surely unnecessary to say, that I have the highest gra- 

 tification in receiving this honour at your hands. To obtain any 

 testimony of approbation from a body of men, amongst whom some 

 of the happiest years of my life have been passed, would, under any 

 circumstances, have been most grateful: but when I look at the 

 list of persons who have already received this M^dal, I regard it as 

 a great honour that my name should be added to the number ; and 

 only regret that the result of my labours has not been more valuable 

 and important ; knowing well that my performance fell far short of 

 what I myself hoped and intended. 



Some of the principal subjects of my Papers have been very often 

 considered in this room ; and you have so well stated — if not with too 

 much kindness — the grounds upon which the Council have thought 

 me deserving of reward, that I could have little to add, even if the 

 present were a proper occasion for geological discussion. But allow 

 me to say, that, from personal considerations, this Medal has for me 

 peculiar value. Dr. WoUaston had been, for many years before his 

 death, one of the kindest friends whom I have ever known. I could 

 mention, indeed, but one other person (and he, fortunately, still re- 

 mains), whose unvaried friendship, during a large and critical portion 

 of my life, was of such essential service to me ; whilst their conversa- 

 tion was an unfailing source of instruction and delight. Of such 

 friendships one may be justly proud. At the close of 1828, as Pre- 



