Xl PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [May 1901^ 



acquaintance, and it is, therefore, with the greatest pleasure that I 

 now ask you to transmit to him the Wollaston Medal, which has 

 been awarded to him by the Council as a mark of their appreciation 

 of the great services that he has rendered to all branches of 

 geological science. 



Sir Archibald Geikie replied in the following words : — 

 Mr. President, — 



It has been to my friend Prof. Barrois a matter of very keen 

 regret that he is prevented from being here to-day, to renew his 

 personal relations with the Fellows of the Geological Society, and 

 to receive from them the highest distinction which it is in their 

 power to bestow. We must all deeply sympathize with him in the 

 causes that deprive us of his presence. Bowed down by one- 

 of the greatest afflictions that can befall a father — the death of a 

 son in the full bloom and promise of early manhood — he has man- 

 fully struggled with his numerous duties, until at last his health 

 has given way under the strain. Let us hope that he may soon be 

 restored to his former vigour, and be able to resume the researches- 

 in Britanny and the detailed description of them on which he has 

 so long been engaged. He has asked me to receive this Medal for 

 him, and I count it a great privilege and honour to be the inter- 

 mediary between the Geological Society of London and one of the 

 most distinguished and widely esteemed geologists of Europe. 

 Prof. Barrois has sent a letter of thanks, which I will now read: — 



*Mr. Pkesident, — 



' Allow me to express my gratitude for the new honour which the Geological 

 Society has bestowed upon me, by the award of the Wollaston Medal, as I cannot 

 but recall that the Council has on a former occasion encouraged me in my scientific 

 work by the award of the Bigsby Medal. 



'I have since made long wanderings along the Channel cliffs on both sides, from 

 Chalk to gi-anite, for the sake of science, in the steps of De la Beche, Fitt on, Godwin- 

 Austen, and the founders of stratigraphical geolog}^ ; and it is for me a very un- 

 expected event to see my name written to-day, for ever, with theirs, in the Proceedings 

 of the Society. 



' No distinction can be more gi-atifying to a geologist than to receive its highest 

 award from the Council of the illustrious Society which for nearly a century has 

 extended our knowledge in every branch of geology, and promoted progress in every 

 part of the earth. I so greatly appreciate this great honoiir, that I feel as if the 

 work that I have been able to accomplish was too small to merit the Wollaston Medal, 

 granted as a reward, but rather as a friendly incitation to go on in my labour — 

 " upward and onward." ' 



' Lille, February 9th, 1901. ' Chaeles Barkois.' 



