XXll PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



ceoiis strata is nearly completed, and forms in itself one of the finest 

 and most extensive palseontological monographs extant. The de- 

 scriptions therein given are full and well drawn up, and the figures 

 which accompany them are unrivalled for beauty of execution. It 

 is in the hope of contributing towards the continuation and comple- 

 tion of this great undertaking, that the Council now offer to M. d'Or- 

 bigny such assistance as lies within their means. Important as is the 

 Cretaceous section of the 'Paleontologie Fran^aise,' the continuation 

 of the Oolitic division, as yet only commenced, would be, if possible, 

 even of more consequence to our science in England. A mono- 

 graph of recent and fossil Crinoidea is another of M. d'Orbigny's 

 works, w4iich has as yet proceeded but a short way, and I scarcely 

 need say how valuable such an essay would be, if complete. The 

 memoirs of this distinguished naturalist upon the fossils of South 

 America, on the secondary fossils of Russia, and many others of 

 minor extent, all bear testimony to his talents and industry, and to his 

 ardent zeal for science. Few living naturalists have sent forth such a 

 mass of valuable work, in the descriptive and iconographical depart- 

 ments of Palaeontology ; and, perhaps, none but himself would have 

 the courage to contemplate such a gigantic undertaking as the ' Pa- 

 leontologie Universelle des Coquilles et des Mollusques,' combined 

 with a complete history of existing species, recently announced, and 

 even commenced by M. Alcide d'Orbigny. 



Sir Henry de la Beche said in reply : — I entirely concur in all 

 the remarks which you. Sir, have just made respecting the merits of 

 M. Alcide d'Orbigny, and the importance to our science of promoting, 

 by all the means in our power, the publications in which he is en- 

 gaged ; and I highly value the privilege, which my official position 

 in the Society gives me, of being the channel for such a communi- 

 cation to M. d'Orbigny as the present. 



After the other proceedings had been completed, and the Officers 

 and Council had been elected, the President proceeded to address 

 the Meeting. 



ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT, 



LEONARD HORNER, Esa., V.P.R.S. 



Gentlemen,-— -I have again the satisfaction of being able to con- 

 gratulate you on the prosperous state of the Society. At no period 

 has it been in a condition of more effective usefulness ; our numbers 

 are greater than at any former Anniversary ; we never had a larger 

 proportion of our Fellows actively engaged in various departments of 

 geological science ; our finances are in so sound a state, that we live 

 within our income, and are able to publish the papers read at our 

 meetings quickly and with ample illustrations; our collections of 



