$6 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
buried in tlic note-book. Ami, fiiitlier, that l)y giving right directions to those 
engaged in public and other extensive works, there would be good ground to hope 
that many facts tending to the verification of conclusions already drawn, and the 
settling oi' problems acknowledged to stand open, might be obtained ; and, perhaps, 
even ttie opening-np of fields which as yet have been but little, if at all, worked. 
Referring to some oliservations made by Mr. Salter, in a letter to the Editor of 
the Geologist, Mr. T. Smith said :— As to the collection of " yood facts," we hope 
that at every meeting of the Association conununications of observed facts will be 
made by members. The statement of these will api)ear in the printed miiuites of 
our jiroceedings ; and these, being circulated among all our members, will convey 
to every quarter some of those means of comparison and suggestions for research 
which are what the local Geologist most needs, both to encourage and to enlighten 
him. 
Alluding to the success of the undertaking, it was stated that, within six weeks 
after the first conference on the subject, not less than 1.50 gentlemen, many of 
them well known in connexion with Geological Science, apiilied for membership. 
And, with a view to the perfect understanding of various objects which the 
Association proposed to follow, and the advantages it held out to its members, the 
President entered at some considerable length into the plans which had been laid 
down for promoting and facilitating the collection and exchange of fossils ; the 
formation of a collecticjii of type-specimens which shoidd serve, amongst other pur- 
jioscs, as a key to the larger national collections in this country, which from their 
extent and richness prove often a source of perplexity rather than of instruction 
to the humble student. 
The fonnation of a collection of the character proposed is confessedly a matter 
of difficulty; it is far easier to accumulate specimens in large numbers, than to 
bring together only such as shall Vie really useful ; but, observed Mr. Smith, be 
the ditiicidties to be encountered what they may, our hope is that we may be able 
by degrees to form a caliinet which shall lie truly typical and always instructive. 
Whilst dwelling on this jiart of the subject, opportunity was taken to acknow- 
ledge the receipt of several promises of fossils illustrative of the principal 
formations. 
A vigorous protest was entered against the undue use of hard words in scientific 
language, on the ground that we, as Englishmen, possess a lang^iage more copious 
than the Greek or Latin, and one which is peculiarly ada]itable for the compound- 
ing of words, and which, therefore, may be most readily moulded to the expression 
of new forms of fact and thought. 
This part of the address was followed by some very useful hints to collectors, 
and some interesting illustrations, to show the necessity of iiroceeding on sound 
princijiles and inductions before concluding upon mere appearances. The President 
urged the importance of always recognising the fundamental Law of Unity which 
underlies all the phenomena of nature, as being absolutely necessary to right 
conchisions, both as to suigle facts and broad generalization on collections 
of facts. 
Mr. Smith concluded by urging the members to use their united efforts for the 
promotion of the connnon objects of the Association, being convinced that if the 
mutual princijile on which it was based was fidly acted upon, its value would 
soon be felt, and all would be satisfied that the Association had not been formed 
in vain. 
After the Address was given, several fresh applications for membership were 
received. 
The next Meeting will be held in the Library of St. Martin's Hall, on Tuesday 
evening, the 8th Februaiy, at 7 o'clock, when Dr. Hyde Clarke, and Mr. Rees, of 
Lucknow, have promised to read papers of great interest. 
