Continuity and catastrophes in geology
1885; Zoological Society of London; Volume: 5; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1144/transed.5.1.1
ISSN2052-9414
Tópico(s)Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
ResumoTHE first part of my duty to-day is to apologise for having undertaken it at all. When my friend Mr. Milne Home, our President, conveyed to me the flattering request of the Edinburgh Geological Club that I should deliver an address on its fiftieth anniversary, I was obliged to confess that for several years the pressure of other work had to a great extent compelled me to withdraw my attention from Geology; and as the progress of discovery in this as in all other sciences is rapid, those who do not keep up with that progress soon find themselves far behind. And so it is that now very often, when I look at the papers read before the Geological Societies here and in London, I see names for whole Formations which are new to my ear, and I feel that I should have a good deal to do to read up to a full understanding of the signification which they possess. Under these circumstances, I told my friend Mr. Home that I did not feel competent for the duty suggested to me. But as my excuses did not seem to be favourably received, I was obliged to content myself with a warning to him that I could do no more than attempt to deal, in general terms, with some of those larger questions and problems of our science which lie behind all detailed research,—on which as yet but little impression has been made,—and which, when once they have been seen
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