320 



THE GEOLOGIST. 



elevations of tlie Drift-beds and collect tlie fossils from tlie valley-gravels, 

 and what a fund of valuable material in a short time they would get toge- 

 ther ! Excursions to places round London might be made weekly, and 

 then occasionally they could journey further afield to compare what they 

 had done in their own area with w^hat was to be seen and learnt in an- 

 other. They would thus be doing good service, and every individual mem- 

 ber so engaged w^ould be fitting himself for an active fellowship of the 

 Geological Society, or for carrying on scientific work in foreign lands. 



These remarks have been forced upon us by the desultory character of 

 the number before us. Eirst,we have a paper "On Coal," by Professor Mor- 

 ris ; and an admirable paper it is, although in some points we differ as to 

 conclusions, as our expressed opinions will have led its readers to perceive. 

 Then, "On the Crasr of Yarmouth," by Mr, Eose ; " On the Hempstead 

 Beds of the Isle of Wight," by Dr. Wilkins ; " On the Exchange of Fos- 

 sils among the Members," by Mr. Bolt; " On Gold from '^'Ova Scotia," 

 by Mr. Tennant ; " On Preparing Peat for Fuel and Gas-making," by Mr. 

 liickard ; " On Lime and Limestone," by Professor Tennant ; " On An- 

 cient Flint Implements of Yorkshire and the Modern Fabrication of simi- 

 lar Specimens," by the Rev. Mr. Wiltshire ; " On the Cretaceous Kocks of 

 Norfolk," by Mr. Eose; "On the Plasticity and Odour of Clay," by Mr. 

 Toralinson. Now, can any one glance over this list, and not see the desul- 

 tory nature of the work doing by the Association ? Is there any purpose 

 or end to be traced in this heterogeneous collection of subjects ? Mr. 

 Clarke got very much laughed at, at the commencement of the institution, 

 for proposing an organized survey of the w^hole British kingdom ; but even 

 it would be better to attempt that than to attempt nothing at all. 



It rests, however, with the Committee, to form a plan for working the 

 members together. Let them try, and they will find plenty of the mem- 

 bers active enough and ready enough for work to respond to their call. 

 London is the birthplace of the Geologists' Association, and the London 

 area must become sooner or later the scene of their labours and triumphs, 

 or in the end the Society will pass aw^ay like a breath of the summer's 

 wind and leave no imprint of its passage behind. Look at the drainage 

 works and the subterranean railway. See what miles of earth they have ex- 

 posed to the light of day; and who, save Mr. Cresy and Mr. Lovick on the 

 actual staff of the Board of Works, Mr. Evans, Mr. Edmund Jones, and 

 one or two other amateurs, have ever given even a passing glance at these 

 gigantic explorations ? No doubt we shall be asked, as we have been before 

 on the occasions of our former strictures, why we are so hard upon the As- 

 sociation, and perhaps something like malice may be again imputed to us. 

 We do not, however, mean mischief in any way. We speak in the sin- 

 cerest friendship, and with the utmost goodwill towards the Association ; 

 but we have no other means of speaking. We hold no seat at the Council 

 Board ; we take no active part in the management of the Society ; but we 

 have seen the good the Society derives from the frankness of our criti- 

 cisms and our unmistakable suggestions. As an example, w^e need only 

 po-.nt to one case — the provincial excursions, the arrangements for which 

 followed close on our remarks. Let no one be misled as to our intentions 

 in commenting on the doings of the Association; we wish to advance its 

 welfare and permanence. 



The members have, in Professor Tennant, an active President, who 

 loses no opportunity of bringing their matters before those who can bring 

 them under public notice, and these will be ready enough to bring the 

 Association into prominence whenever the Society deserves it. When we 

 introduce a friend into society, we like him to be somebody of whom we 

 may well feel proud. The best reason for pride must be good deeds don©_ 



