216 The American Geologist. Ocfober, 189« 
Professor Hall, who liad tr^iveled from San Francisco to be 
present at this meeting, was addressed by vice president Em- 
erson, on behalf of the Association, and by Prof. Joseph Le 
Conte for the Geological Society. Nothing could have been 
more graceful than the earnest and well chosen expressions 
of these men. briefly portraying the vast obligations of the 
present generation of geologists to the labors of the venerable 
scientist. In reply to these addresses, Prof. Hall gave a hasty 
sketch not so much of his attainments in science as of the 
beginnings of his work, its difficulties, embarrassments, and 
triumphs. 
Of particular importance was his reference to the origin of 
the Association of American Geologists, the parent body of 
the American Association. The four geologists of the New 
York survey, feeling the importance of testing their results 
by comparison with those obtained in other states, resolved, 
in the autumn of 1839, to enter into correspondence with oth- 
er working geologists for the purpose of organizing a geologi- 
cal association with this for its chief aim. Initiatory action 
was taken in the home of Dr. Ebenezer Emmons in Albany, 
and its outcome was the calling of a meeting at Philadelphia, 
which took place in April, 1840, whence came the Association 
of American Geologists. In 1842, at the Boston meeting of 
that Association, the naturalists asked to be admitted to the 
society, and in conceding to this proposition the name of the 
body was changed to "Association of American Geologists 
and Naturalists." At a later date the chemists and physicists 
also begged admission, and the name of the society was 
changed to its present form. 
After the remarks by Prof. Hall, a forcible antl eloquent 
address was delivered by Dr. W J McGee. entitled '"James 
Hall, Founder of American Stratigraphic Geology:" and a 
paper Qn Prof. Hall's early work in the Geological Survey of 
the Fourth District of New York, especially noting its influ- 
ences upon geological science, was read by Dr. John M. CMarke, 
assistant state geologist. Other speakers further referred to 
Prof. Hall's labors from various view points: Dr. J. F. Whit- 
eaves, for the Canadian Geological Survey; Hon. T. Guilford 
Smith, for the State of New York and the Regents of the 
University : Prof. William H. Niles, for the Boston Society 
