3 



haps, than his great acquirements in every branch of natural science, was 

 kind enough to write me this memorandum as to our female geologists: — 



"I know one lady now living who can be named independently as a geologist — Lady 

 Murchison — who was at one time very zealous. Lady Lyell works at geology also to as- 

 sist Sir Charles. Miss Benett, when living, stood very high. In Wiltshire she made 

 a very extensive collection, and published a catalogue of them; she worked hard with 

 her hammer. These ladies had long purses, and made good use of them. The late 

 Marchioness of Hastings sought for fossils in the tertiary strata of Hampshire, and made 

 some important discoveries of bones in the fresh water beds. Mrs. Cobbold, of Ipswich, 

 collected the Cray fossils of Suffolk. Miss Beminster collected the fossils of Hordwell, 

 both shells and saurians. In the same field was Mary Anning, a guide, who picked out 

 very fine things for sale, and made herself fully acquainted with them. But these ladies 

 have long passed away. There are, doubtless, others who are wearing their mantles, 

 and will probably inherit their crowns, but I have not the pleasure to know them, hav- 

 ing retired from their domains.- J. De C. Sowerby." 



The founders of this Association, mindful of these facts, have provided 

 for the admission of women ; and it is to be hoped that many beyond those 

 elected this night will be hereafter enrolled in our list, and labour in this 

 new sphere of usefulness. 



Thus we may look forward with confidence to the constitution of a so- 

 ciety which will count hundreds of members, dispersed throughout the 

 country, and with greater means of doing good, generally and individually, 

 in proportion to the increasing strength of the Institution : hence, pledged 

 to us, our members will cease to look to the mere personal benefit of indi- 

 vidual enjoyment, or the consideration of how many shillings' worth they 

 get for a ten shilling subscription, but will feel that they have an interest 

 in geological science for its own sake, and will feel an anxiety to promote 

 it. Some whose circumstances will permit will give a more special atten- 

 tion to geological studies ; and it is to be hoped that this Association will 

 be the means of encouraging and rearing up many whom generations to 

 come will acknowledge as true geologists. Some, svhose means or pur- 

 suits allow them less choice, will devote themselves to promoting an inte- 

 rest in the science in their own district, and increasing the numbers of 

 their fellow- workers. Some will take up the investigation of a local for- 

 mation, or particular class of fossils, and earn for themselves distinction in 

 our annals. Some may become famous by fortuitous discoveries, and their 

 success encourage the general mass to greater efforts. Many a mining 

 captain and many a working miner will, it is to be hoped, be enrolled among 

 us, and be induced to take greater advantage of the rare opportunity of un- 

 derground exploration. As the bent for other studies incline, so we shall 

 have members who apply for our purposes a knowledge of chemistry and 

 physiology, or devote themselves to microscopic examination. Thus in 

 many Avays the bounds of knowledge will be enlarged, and credit will be 

 reflected on this Association. 



There will, however, be the opportunity for combined exertion, in which 

 the organisation of a body like this will be found particularly valuable. 

 Except in Cornwall, there is no local Geological Society widely distrbuted 

 in England, and there are few local societies, nor has the Wernerian So- 

 ciety compassed the whole of Scotland, or the Royal Irish Academy 

 enlisted every working geologist in Ireland. To all the local societies this 

 Association will give increased energy, while it will fill up the blanks be- 

 tween their territories. As the number of our members in each county in- 

 creases, virtually a branch association will exist for each county ; and with 

 a further increase in each district, we shall have in each a local committee, 

 known to each other, working together, and conversant with the features and 

 resources of the neighbourhood. The chief obstacle to local geological so- 

 cieties is that few can afford to pay a two guinea subscription, and that 

 nothing can be done with a half-guinea subscription ; and thus their ex- 

 tension can never be general, and for the main work of the country they 

 must be dependent on this Association, a fact of which it is to be hoped 



