Reports and Proceedings — Geological Society of London. 43 



explosions seeming to be louder and more continuous, and the electric discharges, 

 owing doubtless to its being night, immeasui-ably grander and more awe-inspiring. 

 The writer's house vibrated in a manner it did not do on May 7th. At 2 a.m. the 

 corrected barometrical reading was 30*045 and the temperatm'e 81° F., and at 3 a.m. 

 the corrected reading was 30-035. The marvellous electric display was checked by 

 a heavy shower from the east, and the roar was correspondingly lessened. From 

 about 1'30 a.m. a cloud black as gunpowder was seen advancing southward -from the 

 Soufriere, and at 2*30 this cloud had assumed a circular fonn and was overhead of 

 the Botanic Station. The discharges from this cloud and to northward were 

 exceedingly numerous and severe, and the appearance generally was as though 

 myriads of long fiery serpents were darting hither and thither, and a constant cracking 

 noise was heard, in addition to the roar of the volcano. The chief disturbances 

 seemed to be west of the Soufriere, in the dii'ection of Martinique ; and the writer 

 is strongly of opinion, from observations at the time, that Mont Pele and the Soufriere 

 were in action together, but so far no news has come from Martinique. At 3 a.m. 

 (4th) the discharges and roar to the west nearly subsided, and the Soufriere alone 

 seemed in action, but more on the Windward side. From 3 to 4 a.m. the eruption 

 gradually slackened, and at the latter hour had nearly ceased. The next morning 

 the barometer was normal at 29-950, but the morning had a weird and gloomy 

 appearance. 'So ashes or pebbles fell at the Botanic Station. No deaths are 

 reported anywhere, and no damage to Windward, but to Leeward I learn on good 

 authority that places partly untouched on May 7th are now very severely injured — 

 for instance, the arrowroot-fields at Eichmond Vale and Petit Bordelle and Sharpes, 

 as well as the sugar-canes at the first-named, are extensively damaged by the thick 

 coarse layer of material, and as far down as the Linley Estates and Cumberland 

 extensive damage to ground provisions and arroAVToot is reported. The principal 

 peasant allotments are on the Linley Estates, and early to-morrow morning (6th) 

 I am going with Mr. Osment to inspect these erstwhile thriving places. His Honour 

 the Administrator is also visiting the Leeward District as far as Chateaubelair 

 to-morrow. We had made arrangements for distributing some thousands of economic 

 plants to the Leeward allottees during the coming week, but I fear that this is now 

 out of the question, as the holders have reported that their provisions are buried 

 deep. Last night we had one of the worst thimder storms experienced here during 

 the last 12 years, though the rainfall was only -44 inch. I enclose for your fui-ther 

 information a copy of the Times newspaper, so far the only one issued this week, and 

 on my retm-n from Leeward I hope to be able to give further facts. 



" I have, etc. 

 "Dr. D. Morris, C.M.G., (Signed) H. Powell, 



Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture Curator, 



for the West Indies." 



2. A second communication (also received through the Secretary 

 of State for the Colonies) was read, dated Grenada, September 23rd, 

 from Sir R. B. Lleweljn, Governor of the Windward Islands,, 

 expressing the hope that some scientific observers might be induced 

 to go out to the West Indies and settle there for some time, in order 

 to accumulate information as to volcanic and kindred phenomena. 



3. "The Fossil Flora of the Cumberland Coalfield, and the 

 Pal^obotanical Evidence with regard to the Age of the Beds." 

 By E. A. Newell Arber, Esq., M.A., F.G.S. 



The succession of Upper Carboniferous rocks in the region in 

 question is apparently twofold : an essentially arenaceous series, at 

 least 600 feet thick, consisting of massive sandstones alternating 

 with shales and fireclays, overlying argillaceous and carbonaceous 

 deposits; the latter forming the productive portion of the coalfield 

 and containing three great coal-seams, traceable throughout the 

 district, although known locally under different names. The Upper 

 or Sandstone Series has yielded very few plant-remains from its 



