10 



extreme interest, with the gradual acquisition and invention by 

 degrees of melody and rhythm, scales and harmony, until it 

 reaches its full development in the choral and instrumental 

 music of modern times. Though it has reached so high a state 

 of development, yet we cannot, may not, suppose that no further 

 progress is possible, and in truth its capabilities of progress are 

 only limited by the like capabilities of the human soul and in- 

 tellect of the human race itself. At first a mere toy and play- 

 thing, it has by long continued serious effort, and earnest, 

 reverent cultivation, risen to the dignity of the highest form of 

 Art, exercising the most humanising influence on man, and 

 embodying his noblest sentiments and aspirations. 



^drntom in ^mux. 



PAPER READ BY 



Mr. C. DAWSON, F.G.S.. F.S.A.. &c., 



AT AN 



EXCURSION OF THE SOCIETY TO HEATHFIELD, 



JUNE 11th, 1899. 



THE discovery, which has been recently announced, of petro- 

 leum in East Sussex resolves itself into the fact that gas or 

 vapour such as emanates from petroleum has been found to exist 

 in the underlying strata in that part of England. Some little 

 time back the Brighton Kailway Company sought to obtain an 

 enlarged supply of water for the service of their locomotives on 

 the Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne line. For this purpose a 

 boring was commenced at the Heathfield Kailway Station, which, 

 in reality, is situated in the parish of Waldron, whereby the 

 latter name is sometimes applied to this particular undertaking. 

 As the work proceeded, and the bore-hole went deeper into the 

 earth, there was an unmistakeable odour such as might proceed 

 from oil of an inflammable nature. At length a light was 

 applied to the mouth of the pipe leading up from the bore-hole, 



