pbesident's address. 417 



being to examine the ironstone beds of Cleveland, the working 

 of which has given so powerful an impulse to the iron trade of 

 the north of England. In consequence of the distance to be tra- 

 versed it was thought that the number of members joining in it 

 would be very small; owing, however, to the attractiveness of 

 the programme, and the circumstance that the railway companies 

 exercised a greater liberality than usual, the party, before arriv- 

 ing at its final destination, became nearly one hundred strong. 

 Our associate, Mr. Isaac Lowthian Bell, acted throughout the 

 day as our guide and instructor. As we sped upon our course 

 he described the geological features of the country, and in par- 

 ticular pointed out the beds of the Cleveland ironstone as they 

 showed themselves in the neighbouring hills. On leaving the 

 railway we were conducted to the Hob Hill Mine, which, as 

 being the nearest at hand, Messrs. J. and J. W. Pease had, at 

 Mr. Bell's request, kindly thrown open to our inspection. Its 

 galleries were brilliantly illuminated, so that the character of 

 the mineral, and the mode of its extraction, could be studied 

 with facility. Some blasts were discharged, which gave a zest 

 to our visit. Saltburn was next visited, with its beautiful ra- 

 vine and sylvan glades. The magnificent cliffs which form the 

 shore south of Saltburn were afterwards carefully viewed, and 

 their stratification noted. Several fossils were collected by our 

 party, and specimens of iron scoriae, resembling those found in 

 the vicinity of Boman camps, were found. At four o'clock a 

 party of ninety-five sat clown to the enjoyment of an elegant 

 entertainment, provided for them by Mr. John Bell and his lady, 

 in their beautiful mansion of Bushpool Hall. The repast being- 

 over, and our kind entertainers being thanked for their hospi- 

 tality, the Club adjourned to the spacious greenhouse of the Hall, 

 when business was proceeded with. Here Mr. I. Lowthian Bell 

 read a paper upon the subject which had been the prominent topic 

 of inquiry during the day. He described the circumstances which 

 led to the activity recently witnessed in the Cleveland district, 

 and showed how the mineral riches of its strata had lain dor- 

 mant until the necessities of the country demanded its use, and 

 the achievements of science rendered its reduction economicallv 



