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THE FOSSILIFEROUS DEPOSITS

peated extinction of entire creations, these visitations of theage assume a peculiar significance But the subject is onewhich I must not pursue. The same time which, in its surecourse, conducts both individuals and species to their lastday, has brought round the last day of my occupancy of thischair. Accept, gentlemen, ere I leave it, my best thanksfor the marked kindness and courtesy which I have on everyoccasion received at your hands,—for the tolerance whichhas overlooked my many shortcomings,—and for the atten-tion and respect with which my various communications havebeen received. I trusted to have had the honour of resign-ing it to a gentleman who, fifteen years ago, was one of themost active and zealous members of the Royal Physical So-ciety ; and who had, since that time, achieved for himself innatural science in general, and in geology in especial, a repu-tation co-extensive with the civilized world.* But, alas!Death reigns. This distinguished man, in the full blow ofhis fame, and in the mature prime of vigorous manhood,has passed suddenly away; and wherever in either hemi-sphere physical science is cultivated, or the bypast history ofour globe excites the legitimate interest, his early death willbe felt and deplored as a heavy loss. The spoiler has brokenabruptly off many a train of ingenious thought,—cut shortmany a course of sedulous inquiry,—arrested, just ere itsformation, many a profound induction,—and scattered hoardsof unrecorded knowledge, the adequate re-gathering of whichmany years to come may fail to witness. But our idle re-grets can neither restore the dead nor benefit the living.Let us rather manifest our regard for the memory of our il-lustrious brother,—taken so unexpectedly from among us,—by making his disinterested devotion to science our example,and by striving to catch the tone of his frank and generous

* It had been proposed, at the previous meeting of the Society, to call tothe vacant Presidential Chair the late Pro essor Edward Forbes .