﻿xxxii Proceedings. {February 28th, 1905. 



" Mining, and Agriculture and Engineering. We can never 

 " forget that to the art of Mining belongs the origin of our 

 "science, and that Mining still includes perhaps the majority 

 " of geological pupils. In the most modern works of Civil 

 " Engineering, in the making of canals, of railroads, and in 

 "those great municipal waterwork undertakings, lie some of 

 " the grandest applications of geological science to the service 

 " of humanity — applications that may be understood and 

 " appreciated by all. 



"Now, there is much to be said in support of the opinion 

 " that no one can become proficient in, or even fairly con- 

 "versant with, more than a single branch or aspect of 

 " geology. But, on the other hand, there is also something 

 " to be urged for the view that no one can fully sympathise 

 " with; or appreciate the motives and the conquests of the 

 " various workers in the science who has not studied it from 

 " many points of view. Here, indeed, I can claim some 

 " experience. Circumstances have so brought it about that 

 "during my geological career I have been forced to be 

 "in turn amateur and professional, student and teacher, 

 " heterodox and orthodox, a theorist and also a worker at 

 "the practical applications of the science. Nor would I 

 " willingly be without this experience, for it enables one, at 

 " least in part to understand that absorbing love of their 

 "science, which, under all these diversities of aspect and of 

 " method, distinguishes British geologists as a class. And, 

 "in their name, rather than in my own, I thank you for the 

 " honour which you have done us. 



"CHAS. LAPWORTH." 



Dr. D. H. Scott, F.R.S., of Kew, then delivered the Wilde 

 Lecture, entitled : " The Early History of Seed-bearing 

 Plants, as recorded in the Carboniferous Flora." 



