MR. EVANS began by referring to the immense advances in geological science since 1825, when the Society received its charter, and pointed out that although there now existed a considerable body of professional or trained geologists, yet amateurs need not be discouraged from taking up the science which now embraces so wide a field that there is ample room for both. He then referred to the prosperity of the Society, to its publication, its medals, and other means for fostering the science, and to its valuable museum, an “interesting notice of which,” he intimated, “appeared in NATURE, vol. xiii. p. 227.” Mr. Evans then spoke of the present prospects of the science, ot the bearing which recent discoveries in other branches of knowledge has upon it, and of the direction in which future discoveries are likely to be made. In this connection he referred to the recent researches in solar physics by means of spectrum analysis and solar photography, as having a close and intimate bearing on the early history of the earth, and which was discussed by Prof. Prestwich in his inaugural lecture at Oxford (NATURE, vol. xi. p. 290). He spoke also of the importance of spectrum analysis to the metallurgist, referring to the researches of Mr. W. C. Roberts in quantitative analyses of gold-copper alloys. Mr. Evans then spoke at soms length of the important results already attained by the Challenger Expedition as to the nature of the sea-bottom. Ift speaking of the Arctic Expedition, from which geology hopes to gain much, he referred to the powerful evidence which exists in the fossil flora of Greenland and Spitzbergen, of the prevalence in the Arctic regions at one period of a distinctly warm climate.