13 



containing microscopic results was published in 1877, a study of 

 the Iherzolite of the Pyrenees, which had been undertaken to 

 complete the history of the serpentine of the Lizard. I will not 

 weary you with a list of papers, but merely say that presently I was 

 forced into the study of the metamorphic rocks and began that 

 systematically about 1881. I had already done something in 

 Anglesea and something in Scotland and had found that light must 

 be sought in other regions to explain the perplexities of these. So 

 I began with the Alps and ever since then I have been trying to 

 decipher the history of the crystalline schists and gneisses in this 

 chain and in other lands. Each journey has had a definite purpose, 

 has been usually an attempt to solve a special problem. Perhaps 

 I have been chasing an ignis fatuus — that, time must show. I am 

 sometimes inclined to regret that I ever took up the question, for 

 it has converted my holiday resort into a place of labour, and has 

 been a fruitful source of controversies. But it is no use regretting. 

 What I have always sought to do is to gather facts and to submit 

 them to inductive I'easoning. Early in my career, I found that I 

 must not trust the statements even of men of note, unless I knew 

 well their personal equation. I would that I had discovered this 

 earlier ; most of my mistakes have come from putting faith in those 

 who passed for princes of Geology. 



So now, addressing many of you for the last time, I say : Go and 

 see things for yourselves. Do not put loo much trust in what you 

 read, unless you know the author. Books have their value, but 

 that of travel is greater still. Gather facts and reason inductively 

 on them. Do not run after the first captivating notion. Distrust 

 brilliancy in an hypothesis almost as much as you would brilliancy 

 in a complexion when seen in Regent Street. 



Another piece of advice. Although I have inked a good deal 

 of paper in my time, I would say do not be too hasty in writing. 

 Distrust sonorous phrases which only cloak inaccuracy of thought. 

 Plod on in the hard, solid and dull line of fact-collecting and 

 inductive reasSning, and prefer doing a little work that will last to 

 a great deal that will break like a catherine-wheel into sudden 

 splendour and then vanish into darkness. I am not sure that in the 

 present age this is the easiest way to success. It is pretty sure to 



