474 
Proceedings of the Royal Soeiety 
Yet even then will our successors, I trust, as we now do, stand 
reverently before the memory of our Founders. In their very linea- 
ments, of which, as portrayed by the master hand of Eaeburn, we 
saw many not far from this spot a few years ago, the vigour and 
originality of the men are written in characters not to be mistaken. 
Happy is the institution which can show such a muster-roll, and 
happy the country which can boast such sons. I take leave of my 
theme with the fervent hope and firm conviction that, in the century 
which we now inaugurate, the Eoyal Society will continue with like 
success the noble task to which by its Charter it is devoted, of in- 
vestigating the hidden treasures of nature, and appropriating them 
to the benefit and happiness of mankind. 
On the motion of the Hon. Lord McLaren, a vote of thanks was 
accorded to the President for his address. 
The following Communications were read: — 
2. On the Microscopic Characters of Volcanic Ashes and 
Cosmic Dust, and their Distribution in the Deep Sea 
Deposits. By Mr John Murray and Mons. A. Eenard. 
Communicated by Mr John Murray. 
In the Session of 1876, Mr John Murray communicated to this 
Society a paper on the distribution of volcanic debris over the 
floor of the ocean,* and in it announced the discovery of cosmic 
dust in deep sea deposits. It was shown that at points, v/here 
neither the action of waves, rivers, or currents can transport the 
debris of continents, volcanic materials play the most important role 
in the formation of the mineral constituents of the deep sea deposits. 
It was pointed out that pumice, on account of its structure, was 
able to float to great distances, but in time became waterlogged and 
sank to the bottom, there to decompose. On the other hand, inco- 
herent volcanic matters, ejected in the form of lapilli, sand, and 
ashes, into the higher regions of the atmosphere, may, ceteris jparihus, 
be conveyed, in consequence of their small dimensions and struc- 
ture, to greater distances than other mineral particles derived fi'om 
the continents. The possibility was also admitted that submarine 
volcanic eruptions might also contribute to the accumulation of 
* Ptoc, Roy. Soc. Edm., 1876 - 77 . 
