1818.] " Geological Society. 221 



oxygen, an oxidation of the iron takes place, and that the same 

 effect is produced when moistened iron is exposed to the atmo- 

 sphere. The power of moistened iron in attracting oxygen from 

 the atmosphere appeared to be very complete ; and, at the same 

 time, iron was found to be a very delicate test of the presence of 

 oxygen in water. 



Feb. 19. — A paper, by Mr. Rennie, jun. was read on the 

 strength of materials. It contained a long detail of experiments 

 and calculations on the mechanical power of different substances, 

 and of the same substance under different forms, of which we 

 hope to give some account in a future number. 



On the same evening was also read a paper, by Dr. Brewster, 

 on the same subject with those which had lately been presented 

 to the Society ; and two mathematical papers were likewise an- 

 nounced, one by Mr. Knight, the other by Sir Wm. Herschell. 



GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Dec. 5. — The reading of a paper, by Mr. W. Phillips, enti- 

 tled " Remarks on the Chalk-hills, in the Neighbourhood of 

 Dover ; and on the green Sand and blue Marl overlying it, near 

 Folkestone," was begun. 



Dec. 19. — The reading of Mr. Phillips's paper was continued. 



Jan. 2, 1818. — The reading of Mr. Phillips's paper was con- 

 cluded. 



The cliffs extending from Dover towards Deal on the east, and 

 towards Folkestone on the west, have afforded to Mr. Phillips 

 the opportunity of a minute examination of the different strata of 

 the chalk in that part ; and the numerous falls on the shore have 

 enabled him to collect various organic remains, which he has 

 transmitted to Mr. Parkinson, who has undertaken to examine 

 them, and to communicate the result of his examination to the 

 Society. 



The highest point of the chalk hills here described is near 

 Folkestone, whence they gradually decline in height towards 

 Dover and Walmer, being in the direction of the dip of the 

 strata which is to the N. E. The dip, however, is very small, 

 being less than 1°. 



The chalk is distinctly stratified ; and the author considers it 

 to consist of the following beds, beginning with the uppermost 

 one : 



1. Chalk, with numerous flints. This forms the cliffs of the 

 shore from Walmer Castle to St. Margaret's Bay, whence it 

 begins to rise, gradually, as the lower beds there begin to appear ; 

 and it continues to form the upper part of the cliff' as far as the 

 citadel. In the Castle hill its thickness may be estimated at more 

 than ]<J0 feet. The strata of flints in this bed occur generally 

 at about two feet distance from each other, and consist for the 

 most part of the detached nodules usual in the chalk with flints. 



1 



