president’s annual address. 
87 
working out the Rhenish formations. The Rev. Professor Sedgwick 
has not relinquished his hold of the lower Silurian deposits; and 
Sir Charles Lyell, who supports his beautiful theory with such an 
array of information, and such a clearness of expression, that one 
cannot avoid yielding one’s assent to them, has produced a detailed ac¬ 
count of the island of Madeira. It may not, perhaps, be out of place 
here to make a few observations on those important practical sub¬ 
jects on which our members can throw the light of their talent 
and their industry. Every scientific inquiry is, doubtless, practically 
useful; and although many sciences may not appear likely ever to 
lead to positive results, experience has proved otherwise. The great 
value of Conchology is a striking proof of this assertion. 1 need not 
allude to the importance of the fullest information being supplied to 
us relative to mines, to coal, or to salt. The different mineral raw 
materials scattered through the country—our beautiful marbles, 
which are at present so inefficiently worked—the different questions 
relating to the connexion between Agriculture and Geology—all 
should engage our close attention. I may also invite your particular 
attention to the question of the bogs. Monographs of these made by 
competent persons would, in my opinion, be of the greatest practical 
importance, and there are many theoretical questions connected with 
them which have not obtained the attention which they deserve. 
From a very partial observation, I cannot resist the conclusion that 
a great portion of the surface now covered with peat is of recent 
formation, and it would be most important, in the absence of topo¬ 
graphical and historical information, to obtain geological data, so as 
to settle this subject. No gentleman could be more competent 
to deal with it than Professor Allman, who combines such an 
amount of zoological and botanical knowledge with Geology. He has 
been obliged to resign his place on the Council from the pressure of 
his new duties, and we must feel proud of one of our alumni being 
placed in the high position of successor to Professor Forbes. With 
my friend Professor Jukes, I have had the painful task to mourn over 
his loss. He conferred great benefits on the Irish Geological Survey, 
and it will be long before we see his equal in Palaeontology. 
This year has also been signalized by the loss of Sir H. de la Beche, 
the head of the Geological Survey. He was a member of this So¬ 
ciety, and anxious for its success. It is hard to speak in sufficiently 
high terms of the obligations which we owe him. He may not have 
VOL. VII. 
K 
