2 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 



The Council by no means wish it to be understood that the 

 printing of the abstracts will preclude them from publishing in 

 full papers read before the Society that may be thought to possess 

 sufficient merit or local interest. 



Although at first the Journal, on account of the expense of 

 publication, is necessarily small, yet should it be found to answer 

 the expectations of the Council, it may be increased so as to 

 contain a report of the discussions that take place at the meetings 

 of the Society, and be the means of scientific communication 

 between the members and others interested in Science, Literature, 

 and Art. 



PEESIDENT'S ADDRESS 



AT THE OPENING OF THE SESSION 1869-70. 



ABSTEACT. 



The President drew attention to the recent meeting of the British 

 Association at Exeter, and more especially to those papers that 

 were read at the meeting which bore any relation to Devon and 

 Cornwall. He remarked that the experience of the meeting de- 

 monstrated that the great landmarks of science were obtainable 

 through the study and minute investigation of the common things 

 that are met with, of which the life history is unknown to us. 



He noticed the papers of Mr. Godwin- Austin, on The Devonian 

 Group, considered Geologically and Geographically;" Mr. David- 

 son's, on ''The Brachiopoda of Budleigh Salterton;" Mr. Orme- 

 rod's "Discovery of Scapolite in Devonshire;" Mr. Peacock's 

 memoir, on " The Wastage and Probable Destruction of the Warren 

 or Natural Embankment of the River Exe;" Mr. Peach's notice 

 of the "Discovery of Organic Remains in the Rocks between Nare 

 Head and Porthalla Cove, Cornwall." 



The President noticed at greater length Mr. Richard Edmonds's 

 communication on " Extraordinary Agitations of the Sea," and 



