330 THE GEOLOGIST. 



nature of that institution, and the antique system upon which its 

 laws and regulations are founded, seem to prohibit, at least, for the 

 present, any hope of its giving that invaluable help which it has all 

 the materials in its hands for doing. Those means are confined as 

 unused jewels within a strong casket by the obstructive bonds of char- 

 tered regulations. The intentional purpose of the Geologists' Asso- 

 ciation is, however, more in accordance with the wants and wishes 

 of the Provincial Societies and Field Clubs, and it is more than pro- 

 bable, that had the London Association shown itself more energetic 

 and worthy of leadership, some proposition for union and combina- 

 tion might have emanated from geologists in the provinces ; but a 

 comparison of the labours accomplished by the Glasgow, the Dublin, 

 the Liverpool, Manchester, Cornwall, and Malvern Clubs would dis- 

 play such superior energy and talent on their parts as would rather 

 entitle any one of them to such pre-eminence. They have done 

 much srood work. What has the London Geologists' Association to 

 show ? Surely it would not be too much at this season to expect 

 weekly working excursions by the London Society ? Cheap trains leave 

 town on Saturdays in numerous directions ; and even if excursion 

 trains were wanting, ordinary fares to most of the interesting points 

 which would be selected for a single day's work would be within the 

 compass of the poorest of the present members, or any that are likely 

 to join. They are such as any working man could afford. There 

 are Grays and Ilford, New Cross and Croydon, to work at for mam- 

 malia and flint implements ; "Woolwich and Erith, Dulwich and Read- 

 ing, for tertiary beds ; Reigate and Redhill for Lower Greensand ; 

 Charlton and Gravesend for Chalk. At further ranges there are Far- 

 ringdon, Hastings, Bedford, Northampton, Harwich, Dover, Heme 

 Bay, cum multis aliis. But such labours must be continuous and pur- 

 poseful, not desultory. Setting aside propositions for excursions such 

 as these, would there not be a great advantage in establishing annual 

 meetings of all the provincial clubs under the direction of the London 

 Association, such as the British Archaeologists have instituted for the 

 votaries of their science. The place of meeting might be selected 

 amongst the localities of the Field Clubs themselves, say Malvern, 

 or Glasgow, or Manchester, or Chester, or Canterbury, or the 

 Ule of Wight — anywhere where there was a provincial society 



