202 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 
the question of Life, any more than in dealing with the 
questions of metamorphism and crystallisation. In all its 
phases and surroundings — in its growth, reproduction, and 
decay — it is under the immediate operation of physical 
laws. A little more heat or a little more cold, an excess of 
drought or an excess of moisture, the exclusion of the air or 
the withdrawal of the sun, are sufficient to influence, or even 
to destroy, its existence ; and though w^e may never be able 
to comprehend the origin of life, we clearly perceive that all 
its subsequent manifestations are closely bound up in definite 
order with the operating forces of the universe. As such, 
the question of vital development becomes, philosophically, 
not only a fitting subject for our research, but one whose 
every bearing is hopefully within our determination. Im- 
possible or not, the loftier we direct our aims, the higher at 
all events wdll be our scientific efforts to attain them ; and 
to shirk the question through fear of arousing unw^orthy 
prejudices would be to belie at once our position as students 
of nature, and subordinate that spirit of inquiry with which 
God has endowed us to seek to comprehend His workings 
in the w^onderful world that surrounds us. 
Such, gentlemen, are some of the points in geological in- 
quiry that appear to me to be worthy of your attention. Had 
the time permitted, we might have adverted to the opposing 
theories of upheaval or accumulation in volcanic action as an 
important element in geological chronology ; to the present 
unsatisfactory state of palceontology as regards nomenclature, 
unnecessary multiplication of species, and in particular as 
regards the neglect of fossil botany ; to the doctrine of uni- 
formity in natural law as sufficient to account for the pheno- 
mena of the past ; to the question of surface-configuration 
as arising from meteoric and aqueous operations, or from 
glacial action ; the law which seems to regulate the recur- 
rence of colder and ivarmer climates over the same latitudes, 
and to several other questions that still continue as moot 
points among geologists ; — but enough, I presume, has been 
said to show that our science, notwithstanding all its pro- 
gress, has yet many problems to solve and difficulties to 
remove. That many of these difficulties will speedily be 
