IXXX PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



been already partially corrected by the wider diffusion of geological 

 knowledge ; but much still remains to be done to liberate mining in- 

 terests entirely from the influence of real ignorance and pretended 

 knowledge. I can conceive nothing more likely to effect this pur- 

 pose than the estabhshment of this '"' School of Mines." Its opening 

 has been perfectly successful. You have not, perhaps, now to learn 

 that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, as Duke of Cornwall, 

 has established two exhibitions of £20 a-year each for the benefit of 

 pupils at the Museum. In this gracious act, we cannot fail to 

 recognize the influence of that liberal and enlightened spirit which is 

 conspicuous in His Royal Highness Prince Albert on every oc- 

 casion which presents itself of promoting the moral and intellectual 

 advancement of our country. To Sir Henry De la Beche, to whom, 

 be it recollected, we owe so much of the extended advantages of this 

 establishment, and to the distinguished men associated with him, we 

 may offer our sincere congratulations on the successful commence- 

 ment of the new phase which, practically, the institution has first 

 assumed during the past year. I regard it not merely as useful in 

 its own department, but as likely by its future success, to lead to a 

 more extended recognition of the practical value of science by those 

 who may be called upon to rule the destinies of our country. 



Note.— ioifje?' Silurian Foot-tracks. — While the preceding pages 

 have been passing through the press, a further communication has 

 been made to the Society, by Prof. Owen, on the footsteps found in 

 Canada, containing conclusions different from those at which he had 

 formerly arrived respecting the nature of the animals to which these 

 footmarks are to be referred*. The specimens which have recently 

 been subjected to his inspection by Mr. Logan, are far more perfect 

 than those which he first examined, and have enabled him, after a 

 very careful examination, and most ingenious analysis of the foot- 

 prints, to decide that they do not belong to animals of the vertebrate 

 class, as he had previously inferred. They probably belong, he 

 thinks, to Crustaceans. The argument drawn from the Professor's 

 former conclusion against the doctrine of the progression of animal 

 life is, of course, much weakened by the result of his more complete 

 investigation. 



I may also add, that since the delivery of this Address, I have re- 

 ceived, by the kindness of M. Desor, on his return from America, 

 a copy of the first Part of a " Report on the Geology and Topography 

 of a portion of the Lake Superior Land District," by MM. Whitney 

 and Foster, United States geologists. The second Part is not yet 

 published. The first Part contains many excellent details respecting 

 the Drift of Lake Superior. I rejoice to find that the American geo- 

 logists are engaged, with their characteristic energy, in investigating 

 the general phsenomena of the Drift. We may expect from them, 

 ere long, important additions to our knowledge on this subject. 

 * See Quart. Journ. Gaol. Soc. vol. vii. p. Ixxvi, and p. 250. 



