248 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 



the Academy with a large number of electrotype illustrations of 

 California plants. 



Mr. Stearns referred to the early knowledge of the existence of 

 coal oil in the United States, as follows : 



The existence of coal-oil in Pennsylvania was known in the last 

 century. In Volume I of the Massachusetts Magazine, published 

 in 1789, by Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews, names 

 which are historical among the earlier printers and publishers in this 

 country, I find, on page 416, the following: 



" In the northern parts of Pennsylvania there is a creek called Oil Creek 

 which empties into the Alleghany River. It issues from a spring, on the top of 

 which floats an oil similar to that called Barbadoes tar ; and from which one 

 man may gather several gallons in a day. The troops sent to guard the West- 

 ern posts halted at this spring, collected some of the oil, and bathed their joints 

 with it. This gave them great relief from the rheumatic complaints with which 

 they were aflected. The waters, of which the troops drank freely, operated as 

 a gentle purge." 



Dr. Stout exhibited samples of black iron sand, and stated that 

 an enormous body of it existed within fifty miles of San Francisco. 

 The sample assayed fifty per cent, of pure iron, of the best quality. 

 The sand was composed of particles, a portion of which were mag- 

 netic, and a part not ; it can easily be smelted, and he had already 

 had a specimen manufactured. As to the origin, deposition and 

 distribution of the iron sands, a discussion and interchange of views 

 and observations ensued, which were participated in by Dr. Gib- 

 bons, Mr. J. Hewston, Jr., Dr. Stout and others. 



Regular Meeting, August Sth, 1872. 

 Vice-President in the Chair. 



Twenty-two members present. 



J. P. Dameron was elected a resident member. 



Donations to the Library: Pnill. Essex Inst., March and April, 

 1872. American Chemist, June, 1872. Monatsbericht der Kon- 

 ighch Preuss. Akad. der Wiss., BerUn, March, 1872. Conspec- 



