10 FORMATION OF THE SOCIETY : UNPUBLISHED RECORDS. 
by this time written to yow. I have to apologise for not having 
sooner attended to this matter. From the feehng evinced at the 
meeting it was thought advisable to restrict the designation of the 
Society to our particular branch of science, although it was seen by 
the rules that geology alone will not occupy the attention of the * 
members. It was principally from the observation of Prof. Phillip's 
that the Society would appear to be restricted in its objects — if this 
really were tlie case, except for a short period during the infancy of 
the Society, I do not entertain any hopes that it will go on 
prosperously or even exist beyond a few years. As you justly observe, 
its objects, year after year, are becoming fewer and of less interest to 
the community genenilly, whereas by having a more extended field 
of research the converse will take place, I would, therefore, strongly 
urge upon you the necessity there is tliat you should give us the 
paper you originally intended, for it will be the means of imparting 
a character and tone to the Society that it would not otherwise 
possess. In fact the very existence and well-being of the Society 
depends so much upon the manner in which tlie first meeting is 
conducted, for from it a sufficient impetus or excitement must be 
derived to carry us forward to our future proceedings with spirit, 
that the assistance of persons occupying the higher walks of science 
is much to be desired to direct the.energies of those whose avocations 
have not permitted them, however willing they may have been, to 
acquire information beyond what is necessary to enable them to 
obtain a knowledge of the duties of their profession, and with very 
few exceptions would, I am sorry to say, seldom attend to anything 
but the pounds, shillings, and pence side of the question ; thus many 
important facts with which we are familiar, and which to a scientific 
man would prove of great service, are passed over merely on account 
of their fre(iuent occurrence — others again which require close and 
minute investigation are suffered to remain unheeded because no 
stimulus is at hand to develope them — all this I am sure the Society 
will be able to effect if once the proper direction be given to its 
pursuits, and I am equally confident that this direction you will be 
able to point out to us, and likevrise show how we shall best keep in 
the right path. Your friend Prof. Phillips will be glad to hear that 
