478 
Proceedings of the Pioyal Society 
I hope no one will think that the object for which I suggest this 
investigation, is not worthy of the trouble which it implies, and of 
the patronage which I ask this Society to bestow on it. These 
erratic blocks bear the same relation to the history of our planet, 
as the ancient standing or memorial stones do to the history of the 
early races of mankind. These last-mentioned stones,—sometimes 
with sculpturing on them not yet understood,—sometimes arranged 
in circles or other regular forms not yet explained,—sometimes found 
in connection with sepulture, are beheld and studied with interest, 
on account of the gleams of light which they throw on the people 
who erected them ; and popular indignation justly rises, when any 
of these prehistoric records of our ancestors are destroyed or muti¬ 
lated. The great boulder stones to which I have been referring 
would, if investigated and studied, in like manner cast light 
on the last tremendous agencies which have passed over whole 
regions of the earth. It is therefore important to have as many of 
these boulders as possible discovered and examined, and to have 
such of them preserved as seem worthy of study. I need not say 
how rapidly, during the last century, both classes of ancient stones 
have been disappearing; and therefore, if it be desirable to pre¬ 
serve the most remarkable boulders, or at all events to record their 
existence, and their geological features, the investigation which 
I advocate, cannot he too soon begun. 
Alike in illustration and in recommendation of this suggestion, 
I will refer to an investigation for the same object commenced two 
years ago in Switzerland, and in the adjoining parts of France. 
The design was twofold,— First , the conservation of remarkable 
boulders situated on the Jura and in Dauphiny; and second , the 
recording of their positions by maps, and of their characteristic 
features by schedules. 
"With this view a circular was drawn out, and issued by the 
Swiss G-eological Commission, pointing out the scientific hearings 
of the subject, and invoking the co-operation not only of provincial 
societies, hut also of municipal authorities in the cantons, and of 
landed proprietors. A few extracts from the Swiss circular may 
not he inappropriate :—■ 
“ These erratic blocks are composed of granite, schist, or lirne- 
“ stone; hut they rest on rocks of a different description. They 
