184 



Monday, October 6, 1879. 



Regular Meeting this evening at 7.30 o'clock. Pres- 

 ident in the chair. Records read. 



James Devereux Waters was elected a member. 



Monday, October 20, 1879. 



Regular Meeting this eveninof. President in the 

 chair. Records read. Donations and correspondence 

 announced. 



Mr. William H. Tappan of Manchester read an inter- 

 esting paper on 



Gold and Silver Mines and Mining. 

 He spoke of the early discoveries of gold in various coun- 

 tries, described and compared the various mining processes 

 adopted at different periods. The principal part of the 

 paper was devoted to the mines and mining of California, 

 describing the habits of those who were pioneers in the 

 early period of the gold excitement, the manner then 

 adopted in procuring the precious metal, and tracing the 

 gradual changes that have from time to time been adopted, 

 not only in the mode of living, hal)its, etc., of the miners, 

 bnt in the new and improved processes of working the 

 mines and in smelting the ore. 



At the adjournment of the meeting held on Tuesday, 

 October 21, at noon, Mr. Theodore M. Osborn of Peabody 

 was elected a member ; and Mr. James Samnelson of 

 Liverpool, England, a corresponding member. 



