2 ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 
papers read during the session were those contributed by the Rey. 
J. E. Tenison-Woods, and especially that on “The Geology of the 
Hawkesbury Sandstone,” which, from the novelty of its concep- 
tion, the variety of the facts and observations by which his theory was 
supported, the clearness with which the facts were set forth, and 
the masterly ease which characterized the treatment of the theory 
propounded, is a most interesting and valuable contribution to the 
Society’s Transactions. There was also a very interesting and 
valuable paper on “ Tropical Rains,” by my highly respected pre- 
decessor in this Chair, Mr. H. ©. Russell 3 and also a very 
remarkable paper by Mr. James Manning, containing curious 
revelations as to the religious belief of the aborigines of New 
Holland—revelations made to him more than five and forty years 
ago, as he alleges, before the blacks had come in contact with the 
missionaries or other tamperers with their faith, 
In casting about for a subject on which to address you this 
evening, it has seemed to me that I could not better oceupy your 
attention or discharge the duty imposed on me than in bringing 
under view a résumé of the life and labours of a distinguished 
member of our Society, the tidings of whose death reached us’ 
subsequent to our last anniversary, and who has left behind him 
a name and reputation second to none in this age of scientific 
inquiry. Upon the roll of honorary members of our Society in 
the year 1879 was placed the name of Charles Robert. Darwin ; 
and whilst we did honor to ourselves in enrolling his name 
amongst the distinguished men to whom a like compliment has 
been paid, it is gratifying to know that he highly appreciated this. 
recognition of his great services in the field of natural science. 
In the month of April of last year, within the precincts of the 
ancient Abbey of Westminster, and near the honored grave of 
England’s greatest philosopher, were very appropriately deposited 
the mortal reinains of this eminent naturalist ; and whatever 
might have been the public opinion a quarter of a century ago, 
ho one at the present day would venture to challenge the claim 
that the final resting-place of the foremost scientific man of 
