AKI^IVEESAEY ADDEESS OF THE PKESIDElirT. 53 



by Mr. Etheridge, has now been published, forming a book yet 

 larger than the first volume, the work of Professor Seeley, which I 

 noticed last year. This book, as might be expected, is a perfect 

 mine of information on Stratigraphy and the Life-history of the 

 Earth, presenting us with the outcome of many years of incessant 

 labour. Perhaps its magnitude wHl make it less serviceable to the 

 ordinary student preparing for examinations, but it will be an in- 

 valuable book of reference for those who have left behind such 

 anxious periods of trial, and a veritable quarry from which teachers 

 for years to come will extract valuable materials for the edification 

 of their hearers. jN'otwithstanding the pressure of his official duties, 

 Dr. A. Geikie has found time to prepare a revised and enlarged 

 edition of his excellent ' Text-book of Geology,' and only yesterday I 

 received a copy of another work from his pen, a ' Class-book of 

 Geology ;' Professor James Geikie also has just published a smaller 

 volume entitled ^ Outlines of Geology,' which will, no doubt, be 

 useful to less advanced students. The first volume of another im- 

 portant text-book has also recently appeared, from the pen of the 

 worthy successor of Buckland and Phillips in the Oxford chair, our 

 friend Professor Prestwich. The present volume treats of geology, 

 chemical and physical. It has a special value as embodying the 

 experience of a veteran in science, and a special interest as being 

 conceived in what we may call (I trust without offence) a reactionary 

 spirit, being intended as a gentle protest against the too monotonous 

 views of some disciples of the IJniformitarian School. Clearly and 

 attractively written, admirably " got up " by the Clarendon Press, 

 this work will add to the reputation, already so great, of its author^ 

 and when completed will have a permanent and honoured place in 

 the libraries of geologists. 



Our own Library has received many valuable additions, by pur- 

 chase, exchange, and donations, during the past year, and I hope 

 that, in future, it will be found possible to expend a slightly larger 

 amount on its sustentation and augmentation than has been done 

 in the past. I cannot close my remarks on the recent history of 

 our Society without adverting to the loss which it has sustained 

 within the last few days by the death of Mr. AV. W. Leighton, who, 

 for many years, has so efficiently discharged the duties of clerk. 

 He was present among us, as many of you will remember, at our 

 last evening meeting, apparently in good health. He retired to rest 

 as usual that night, and in the morning was found to have passed 

 from slumber into the sleep of death. 



Three events during the past year, though only indirectly connected 

 with our Society, call, I think, for a passing notice. Of these, one is 

 the celebration of the coming of age of the ' Geological Magazine,' to 

 which I alluded in my last address. Some friends of the learned and 

 indefatigable Editor-in-chief having decided to avail themselves of 

 the opportunity of indicating their sense of his services to geology, a 

 committee was formed and a subscription-list was opened. As the 

 result, in the month of December last, by permission of the Council. 



VOL. XLII. / 



