g6 PEOCEEDINGS OF TKE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



additional labour, of a kind unprofitable to one's self. The great 

 demands made upon my time for the last four years by duties only 

 indirectly connected with science have compelled me to be a little 

 selfish, and have precluded me from the careful study of a good deal 

 of contemporary literature, now becoming fearfully voluminous . But 

 T cannot conclude without stating how much I owe to many fellow- 

 workers — to Daubree, Fouque and Levj'', in France, to Eenard in 

 Belgium, to Yogelsang, Eosenbusch, and Zirkel, in Germany, to 

 many Americans, above all Wadsworth and Button, and, in our own 

 country, to Sorby, Phillips, Teall, Judd, and Allport ; all of these 

 last named have aided me in every possible way, freely furnishing 

 me with specimens and frankly imparting to me their own ideas. 

 To the last, Mr. S. Allport, I feel myself under a special obligation. 

 Fourteen years ago, when I began to study the microscopic structure 

 of rocks, there were few books and, in England, very few petrologists. 

 Mr. Allport had already more than mastered the preliminary diffi- 

 culties, and had got together a fine collection of rock-slides, his 

 own handiwork. This collection and all that he knew were at my 

 service whenever I could visit Birmingham. To him I used to carry 

 my perplexities, and from him I got that help which, in my new 

 stage of work, was invaluable. I can say with truth that had it not 

 been for his assistance, as well as your indulgence, I might never have 

 attained to the honour of addressing you from this chair. 



