whatever the result of this controversy, your readers will not be ungrateful to me for having been the means of drawing from such a distinguished explorer and geologist as Baron von Richthofen, the vigorous defence of his views which appears in the last Number of the Geological Magazine. The admirable work he has done in China it would be an impertinence in me to praise; but I may be allowed to say that a large part of it will outlive any ephemeral discussions about the Loess—discussions in which there must be a considerable element of doubt, whatever theory is adopted.