Proceedings. 35 



of the two is most economical being determined by local 

 circumstances. 



A discussion ensued, in which Mr. Corbett, Mr. 

 Barton Worthington, Mr. William Thomson, and 

 the President took part. 



Ordinary Meeting, December 12th, 1 



James Bottomley, D.Sc, B.A., F.C.S., Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 



The thanks of the members were voted to the donors of 

 the books upon the table. 



The Chairman referred to the death, since the last 

 meeting, of Professor TYNDALL, an honorary member of 

 the Society, elected 1868. 



The Secretaries reported on the completion of the 

 Joule Memorial statue by Mr. Alfred Gilbert, R.A., 

 originally promoted by the Council of the Society, and 

 announced that the surplus funds, to the amount of £2 57.1 is., 

 had been handed over to the Society to be used for the 

 commemoration of Joule's name, and that the books and 

 documents of the Memorial Committee had been given to 

 the Society for safe keeping. 



Professor WEISS exhibited some pieces of wood taken 

 from some gravel beds near Stockport. The wood was 

 completely waterlogged and quite soft. Exposed to the 

 atmosphere it became hard and black, lost its woody 

 appearance, and showed a conchoidal fracture. It was 



