[ 48 ] 



of Mr. Scott, from whom be bad received tbe first kindness be met 

 •with after coming to Brigbton.— Tbe proposition was unanimously 

 agi-eed to. 



Mr. WONFOR showed a hard piece of chalk which had 

 been found in an inner wall of tbe late King's Head, in West 

 street, and which there was every reason to believe had been in the 

 building since its erection, about two hundred years ago. It was 

 bored through by pbolades and other creatures, and was rolled as 

 if it had been originally taken from tbe beach. The object in 

 exhibiting tbe specimen was two-fold; first, as an illustration of 

 tbe use of chalk in Sussex for building purposes, and, secondly, to 

 show that chalk, exposed to the action of tbe sea, acquired a 

 hardness not found in freshly quarried chalk. Many Sussex 

 edifices were built of chalk, faced with flint or stone, such as Lewes 

 Priory and Parham House. 



The examination of this piece of chalk led to tbe remark that 

 gas might be made from chalk ; but the President observed that 

 the only gas which could be got from chalk pure and simple by 

 itself was carbonic oxide, and Mr. Wonfor stated that if some 

 hydrocarbon was united with chalk, the streets of Brighton might 

 be lighted by material from the cliffs. 



A piece of the pulp of paper extracted from tbe sugarcane, 

 and a sheet of papier-mache used in tbe formation of stereotype 

 of the Times newspaper of October 16tb, 1873, was exhibited by 

 Mr. R. Glaisyer. 



In tbe course of several incidental allusions to aquatic 

 matters, attention was directed to the inestimable value of 

 tbe Aquarium, to the naturalist especially, and the difficulties 

 which had to be overcome in the preservation of marine life in that 

 institution, and which appeared to be very little understood by the 

 public generally. The Hon. Howe Browne, one of the directors of 

 the Aquarium, who was present, afforded some information under 

 this bead, and assured the meeting that tbe Aquarium Company 

 would be ever willing to provide tbe society with any specimens of 

 marine life which its members desired to examine and consider, if 

 it were in tbe power of tbe directors to do so. 



For this assurance the President expressed the gratitude of 

 tbe society. 



