Ordinary Meeting, November 14th, 1871. 
E. W. Binney, F.R.S., F.G.S., President, in the Chair. 
Mr. Watson Smith, Jun., F.C.S., was elected an Ordinary 
Member of the Society. 
The Pkesident said that the Society had lately lost by 
death one of its most distinguished Honorary Members, 
Sir R. J. Murchison, Bart., a geologist of world-wide reputa- 
tion. He had enjoyed the privilege of Sir Roderick’s 
friendship for over thirty-five years, and he could fully 
confirm all that had been stated in the public prints of the 
deceased’s great scientific attainments, his liberal patronage 
of science, and his kind and good heart ; but there was one 
quality, namely, that of learning to the last and being ever 
ready to alter his views as new facts were discovered, that, 
in his opinion, had not been sufficiently noticed. For many 
years he (the President) and Sir Roderick had held different 
views as to the geological age of certain rocks in Yorkshire, 
and latterly, on more careful examination of the district by 
the officers of the Geological Survey, the latter changed his 
opinion. Immediately on their doing so he wrote as 
follows : — 
“Belgrave Square, 4th June, 1869, 
“ Dear Binney, 
“ My geological surveyors have, I understand, come to 
the conclusion (though nothing has yet been published on it) 
that the Plumpton Rocks, near Knaresborough, belong to a 
well-defined band of the Millstone Grit Series. 
“ I have mislaid and cannot find your paper in which you 
expressed the same opinion, in opposition to the views of 
i 
Proceedings— Lit. & Phid. Soc. — Y ox. XT. — No. 3. — Session 1871-2. 
