Imperial Geological Union

Abstract

NO one interested in geological science could fail to be impressed with the evidence afforded by the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, in its display of natural products, in the conferences connected with it, and in the number of scientific men collected from all parts of the Empire, of the amount of geological work represented by Great Britain and its dependencies, and the commanding position of the Empire with reference to the geology of the world. The same fact was apparent in the importance attached to Colonial and Indian geology and geography at the meeting of the British Association at Birmingham. Influenced by these facts, I was induced to speak somewhat strongly in the address which I had the honour of delivering at Birmingham on the position of Britain and its colonies and the English-speaking world in general with reference to scientific progress. On my return to Canada, and more particularly after the (temporary, as I hope) failure of the project to hold a meeting of the British Association next year in Australia, it seemed desirable to give the matter some definite form; and after correspondence and consultation with friends, I was induced, in February last, to address a letter on the subject to Prof. Stokes, the President of the Royal Society. The reasons for this course were that both Prof. Huxley and his successor in the Presidential chair of the Royal Society had suggested an Imperial Scientific Union, and the subject was understood to be under the consideration of the Council of the Society, which from its central and commanding position has a right to the initiative in any movement of this nature. In this letter geological science is alone directly referred to, as being that with which the writer is more immediately connected and that which in some respects has already the best organization; but without excluding other departments of science. Special reference is also made to Canada, as affording an apt illustration of the extent and value of the geological domain of the Empire. I need scarcely add that the present year, distinguished as it is by many movements in the direction of Imperial Union, in connexion with its being the fiftieth year of the reign of Her Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, seems especially auspicious for such a project. The following are extracts from the letter referred to