Al^NIVEESART MEETING MFKCHISON CENTENARY. 37^ 



frank, generous, and sympathetic nature that underlay the some- 

 what formal bearing of the old soldier, this day brings many 

 pleasing memories. That the recollection of his personal worth 

 remains yet fresh without as well as within the pale of our Society 

 has been vividly brought to my knowledge by an incident as 

 unwonted as it is gratifying. Within these few days an old friend 

 of Murchison, who desires to remain unknown, has come to me 

 with the wish to be allowed to offer here a tribute to his memory 

 at this Anniversary of the Geological Society and centenary of his 

 birth. As a mark of sincere admiration for the man as well as the 

 geologist, and with the view of helping to encourage the cultivation 

 of the spirit in which he laboured, I have been asked to select two 

 geologists, by preference Scotsmen, who are disciples of Murchison 

 or who are carrying on the kind of research to which he devoted 

 himself. To each of these workers the generous donor asks to be 

 allowed to give a framed portrait of Murchison together with a 

 sum of £dO. The conditions of the gift circumscribed my choice, 

 but I feel confident that I shall carry the Society with me when I 

 say that there are pre-eminently two Scottish geologists who have 

 worthily followed in Murchison's footsteps, but with no slavish 

 regard for the opinions of their master, who are continuing and 

 extending his work, and who by their constant association alike in 

 the field and in descriptive writing deserve to share in this tribute 

 to the memory of their former chief. I need hardly say that I 

 allude to Mr. B. N. Peach and Mr. John Home, 



The President then presented an envelope containing a cheque 

 for ,£50 to Mr. B. N. Peach, F.G.S., and requested him to convey a 

 similar packet to Mr. J. Horne, F.G.S. 



Mr. Peach, in reply, said : — 



Mr. President, — 

 On behalf of my colleague, Mr. Horne, and myself I beg to 

 thank you for your kindness in considering that we have carried on 

 the work of our old chief, Sir Eoderick Murchison, in the true 

 spirit, and I beg to request that you will convey our thanks to the 

 unknown donor of this munificent gift. 



VOL. XLVm. 



