president's address. 130 



were conducted througli part of the workings by Messrs. William 

 and John Curry, returning by another shaft which brought the 

 party at once to " the day." 



A botanical party, under the guidance of Mr. William Brown, 

 visited Allen's-Cleugh plantations and the adjacent moors; but as 

 the locality selected was situated at a considerable distance from 

 Mr. Sopwith's residence, it was much regretted that time would 

 only allow of a very cursory examination of the ground, which, 

 there is reason to believe, would well repay a much longer visit. 

 The species noticed were the following : — Muhus Chamcemorus, 

 Sedum villosum, Saxifraga stellaris, Vaccinium Vitis4dcea, Vac- 

 cinium Myrtillus, Empetrum nigrum, Listera cordata, at an 

 altitude of from 1,800 to 1,900 feet; Aira flexuosa, and Lastrea 

 Oreopteris. 



A third party remained at Allenheads to inspect the out-door 

 arrangements for crushing and washing the lead, &c. 



Mr. Sopwith met the whole party on their arrival, and gave 

 explanations of the several departments, and also read a paper, 

 of which the following is the substance, on the geology of the 

 mining districts : — 



Mr. Sopwith first adverted to the general configuration of this 

 part of the kingdom, and more especially as regards the great 

 coal and lead mining districts, the former on the east and west 

 coasts, and the latter occupying the high midland district of the 

 Penine Kidge. The mountains of Cross Fell and Kilhope Law 

 form as it were the centres from which the o;eoloo;ical structure 

 of this part of England could be most conveniently described. 

 A section of the strata, made under Mr. Sopwith's direction, ex- 

 hibited a clear view of the rocks which form the lead mining dis- 

 tricts of Allendale and Alston, and it includes the summits of 

 both the mountains above mentioned. The general character 

 and arrangement of these rocks were described, and also the re- 

 markable extent and chief results of the vast denuding influences 

 which have operated upon these hills, adverting at some length 

 to the close connection of the glacial theory with this subject, and 

 describing the external evidence which yet remains ol glacial 

 action. 



