Allow me to make a few remarks on the two interesting papers contained in your last number,—one by M. Delaunay, on the Supposed Internal Fluidity of the Earth, the other by Mr. Shaler, on the Formation of Mountain Chains. I wish, in the first place, to protest against the assumption contained in the first paper (pp. 507 and 509) that the internal fluidity of the globe is “generally accepted by geologists,” on the evidence of its high internal temperature. No doubt the arguments employed in that paper go to shew that, whether fluid or rigid within, the precession and nutation of its axis would remain equally unaffected. So far, therefore, the well-known astronomical argument of Mr. Hopkins and Sir W. Thomson, as to its entire or nearly entire solidity, must be considered to be invalidated. But as Mr. Shaler justly remarks in the second paper, p. 512, “the proved increase of temperature from the surface towards the centre, and the extreme elevation of heat which must exist at considerable depths (as shewn in volcanic and other igneous phonomena) cannot be regarded as evidence of general fluidity, until it has been shown that the internal pressure has not a greater influence in preventing liguefaction than internal heat in producing that condition.”

The object of this paper is to call attention to the magnificent head of the Mammoth, discovered by Antonio Brady, Esq., F.G.S., of Maryland Point, Stratford, Essex, in a brick-pit at Ilford, in 1864, and now placed in the Geological Department of the British Museum.

After referring to the scope of the subject which had been named by the Local Committee, the Author said—I will first ask your attention to the denudations, by land and sea, now taking place in the country.

Were the diamonds said to be found at the Cape, and sent to England, really found in South Africa? I have just returned from the so-called diamond district, to which country I proceeded from England, being deputed by Mr. Harry Emanuel, the diamond merchant, of Bond-street, who is well known as a most indefatigable scientific enquirer on the subject of precious stones, and who naturally felt a great desire to develop a new source of supply of a commodity in which he is so largely interested. During the time I was in South Africa I made a very careful and lengthened examination of the district where the diamonds were said to have been found, but saw no indications whatever that would warrant the expectation of the finding of diamonds, or of diamond-bearing deposits, at any of the localities.

Gold is said to have been found in South Africa, and very probably it is. I have myself an undoubted specimen from the copper mines in Namaqualand, in which the gold is imbedded and associated with silicate of copper or chrysocolla; but with regard to the “diggings,” as they are called by the Cape papers, and which are situated some considerable distance up beyond the Great Orange River, and north and west of Natal, the question is whether the gold is in sufficient quantity to pay for the labour and expense of its production. It is certainly very premature to call this auriferous district “Gold diggings” and “Gold fields,” when really not ten ounces of gold have as yet been produced altogether in something like twelve months. Parties have been up and returned, each on some very trivial excuse. Some travellers describe the gold quartz as containing gold in large quantities, and yet they have not obtained satisfactory specimens themselves, although these “rich beds (it is said) extended over many miles of country, and rich gold quartz could be had almost for the trouble of picking it up.” The great idea seems to be in getting persons to come out on a wild-goose-chase, when nothing definite is known about these wonderful “diggings.” Ancient furnaces are said to be found in the neighbourhood, and of course plenty of fuel!!