476 
JUBILEE MEETING. — PROFESSOR JUDD. 
the history of geology is a record of the achievements of individuals. 
There were giants on the earth in those days," and the giants had a 
very good time of it, because, with all the world before them they could 
choose the objects of their study. But now, when so many fields have 
been occupied and well w^orked out by these individuals, it is necessary 
that the remaining portions of the subject should be taken up in a more 
systematic and methodical manner, and this will perhaps be best done 
by the eiforts of societies. Geologists will always remember that it 
was in Yorkshire, about the year 1673 that Martin Lister conceived 
the first idea of making geological, or as he calls them, " soil or 
mineral maps." He was strongly impressed with the contrast of 
Holderness, with its sands, clays and peat, and the Wolds with their 
chalk and flint ; the moorlands of the North, with their sandstones 
and clays, and the mountains of the west, with their sandstones, 
clays and coals ; and he made the valuable suggestion that 
the distribution of these several materials might be well shown 
upon maps. But it was reserved to William Smith to go 
much furthur than this, and to show that such maps might be 
made to exhibit not only the distribution, but also the true 
relation of stratified masses. The year 1794 is, I think, regarded 
by historians as one not altogether uneventful. But it has 
occurred to me that when distance has placed objects in some- 
thing like their true perspective, the year 1794 will not be so much 
remembered for events that at the time have attracted the greatest 
attention as for otliers far less conspicuous. When we think of that 
year we shall find our interests centered, not in France or Ireland, 
but in Yorkshire. The time must come when Robespiere and 
Buonaparte become like the shadows of a nightmare or troubled 
dream, and when the crimes and troubles of Ireland shall have been 
forever forgotten in a great reconciliation, and in that time we shall 
think more of an event which took place in 1794 in this county of 
Yorkshire, when a memorable post-chaise vehicle had been seen 
making its way from Barnsley to Leeds, and hence to York and away 
to Newcastle and the north, and back by this very town towards the 
south. In that post-chaise was William Smith, who was engaged 
in obtaining a verification of that important generalisation of his 
