PROCEEDINGS OF GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. 



195 



acting in these countries, that it is impossible to apply the same rules to 

 the two periods. The changes described must have progressed with a ra- 

 pidity of which we, at the present day, can in these latitudes hardly form 

 an adequate conception. 



"But, although I would shorten the Quaternary period by the extent of 

 the differences here alluded to, it still remains of great length and import- 

 ance, stretching back into a far remote antiquity, and it is far into this 

 period that we have traced these works of man. Although at present we 

 are without a scale or measure to determine that antiquity, we need not 

 abandon the hope that, by continued and careful observation, we may 

 eventually succeed in forming some comparative estimate of it. The first 

 men who, after traversing the plains of Lombardy, approached the Alps, 

 could scarcely have failed to realize their vast dimensions, although with- 

 out the means to determine their exact height ; so we, from the relative 

 magnitude of the phenomena and the variation of life, can sufficiently well 

 realize the remoteness of the time in question, although we do not possess 

 the data whereby to measure its duration, and determine its exact dis- 

 tance from our own time." 



Royal Geological Society of Ikeland. — April 13. — The Rev. 

 the Vice-Provost of Trinity College, President. 



The President announced that as the change in the constitution of the 

 society, which was announced on the notice-paper for the evening, might 

 necessitate some slight change in the bye-laws, he would request that any 

 gentleman who had candidates to propose for the honour of Fellowship of 

 the society would mention their names, so that they might be balloted for 

 at the next meeting. 



The following names were then proposed :— A. Gahan, Esq., C.E.; H. 

 Russell, Esq. ; R. T. Brabazon, Esq. ; R. Glascott Symes, Esq. ; and 

 Sandford Palmer, Esq. R. H. Ellis, Esq. was proposed as an Associate. 



Mr. Scott read the following report from Council: — The idea has been 

 frequently mooted within the last few years, that it would be advisable to 

 have the name of the society altered, so as to make it the Geological 

 Society of Ireland, as the title Geological Society of Dublin appears to 

 confine its labours to the immediate vicinity of this city ; whereas by the 

 original resolution, passed in 1832, its objects were so defined as to em- 

 brace the whole of Ireland. In addition to this change, several influential 

 members were of opinion that the addition of the word "Royal" to its 

 title would be of great importance, as indicating that her Majesty was 

 disposed to recognize its labours. The council accordingly, at their meet- 

 ing on the 17th of February, appointed a sub -committee, consisting of the 

 Rev. Professor Haughton, with the treasurers and secretaries, with full 

 powers to act as they thought best. The sub-committee drew up a 

 memorial, which was suitably engrossed, and they requested the following 

 members to sign it : — The Earls of Enniskillen, Bandon, and Dunraven ; 

 Lords Talbot de Malahide and Dunally; Sir R. Griffith, Bart., with the 

 President. They further requested Lord Talbot is Malahide, as a former 

 President of the society, to have the kindness to forward the memorial to 

 "the Home Office, and they enclosed with it a complete copy of the Journal 

 of the society for her Majesty's acceptance. The council have the honour 

 to submit the reply which her Majesty has been graciously pleased to 

 return to their memorial ; and they cannot but, in the first instance, con- 

 gratulate the society on this proof that their labours during the past year 

 have been appreciated, as they would consider they deserve to be ; and 



