BRITISH ASSOCIATION' MEMTINfl. 
401 
Sir CiiAKT,ES Lyell moved a vote of thanks to Sir Roderick for the clear 
and admirable illustration he had given them of the Geology of Scotland, wliich 
I'rofessor PiiiLLirs seconded, remarking on the high estimaticni in wliich Sir 
11. Murchison was held over half the globe as the master of the Silurian. 
Sir David Brewster, as Vice-president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 
tlieu presented the Brisbane Medal to Sk Roderick, an act that met with great 
ajiplausc from the audience. 
Tlu! deputation of the council accompanying Sir David Brewster, consisted 
of Dr. Ghristison, Professors AUman aucl Balfom-, and Mr. Robert Chambers ; 
the latter addi'essed Sir Roderick in the following speech : — 
" Sir Roderick ilurcbison, — The Royal Society of Ediuburgli, vicmn^ your 
late researches in the Highlands of Sutherland with an interest and adnnration 
shared by the whole scientific world, lias thought proper to vote to you the first 
example of a gold medal, founded by its respected President, Sir Thomas S. 
Brisbane, for remarkable scientific services. In the paper read by you to the 
Geological Society in December last, the Society sees an admirable instance 
of laborious investigation in connection with a Scottish field. You have, sir, 
succeeded in putting into a new and correct place in the geological series, a 
band of formations whicli, from the days of M'Culloch downwards, has attracted 
a large share of attention, both on account of its constituent materials and the 
magnificent scenery which it forms ; and you have thus conferred a great favour 
u])on your native country. It seems suitable that the Royal Society of Edin- 
burgh, which lieard the first speculations of Hutton and of Playfair, should 
take upon itself to stamp with the national approbation services so distin- 
guished as yovu'S. The Society, however, must not and cannot overlook the fact 
that your researches in Sutherlandshire only foUow up a most remarkable series 
of geological investigations performed during the last thii-ty-five years, and 
which have placed you so high among the great cluefs of Uviug British 
geologists. In succession, the mountains of Auvergne, the Alps, the Car- 
pathian, the Urals, have owned your genius for research. You have recalled 
to the world the story of the first ages of life upon its surface. In the wide 
plains of Russia your diligence has been as conspicuously shown as in that 
Sduria which is aU your own. Two superb and voluminous works and a 
hundi-ed separate memoks but faintly express the amount of your geological 
writuigs. Nor, on the present occasion, should your services, as tlie head of 
the Geological Survey, and as the frequent President of the Geographical 
Society, be forgotten. Neither should we fad. to remember that remarkable 
triumph of science of wlueh you are the instrument — the vaticination of an 
auriferous region in Australia from the observations you had made in the Ural 
Mountains. Viewing these many merits and your present active course, the 
Royal Society of Edinburgh camiot but feel proud in having the privilege of 
conferring upon you the first Brisbane prize ; and it is their earnest wish and 
prayer that you may long be spared to enjoy the many deserved honours 
which a gratefid country and an admii-ing band of fellow-labourers and a 
beneficent Sovereign have conferred upon you." 
Sir Roderick Murchison replied in very feeling language, that no honour 
ever conferred upon him had touched him more than tliis testimonial at the 
hands of his own countrymen. He was gratified beyond measure at receiving 
this honour from a Society which, of all others in Europe, is most chary in con- 
ferrmg its honours, and has a more limited number of honorary members. And 
all the more would it be esteemed that it was put into his hand by one of the 
most eminent of living phdosophers. 
The foUowuig is a summary of the other papers read in the Geological 
section : — 
Dr. Black, F.G.S., "On Coal at Ambisheg, in the Island of Bute." 
