Ixxxiy —Ss PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL socrETY. [Aug. 1902, 
May 28th, 1902. 
Prof. Caartes Lapwortu, LL.D., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 
Cecil Wray, Esq., 12 South Hill Park Gardens, Hampstead, N.W., 
was elected a Fellow of the Society. 
The List of Donations to the Library was read. 
The following specimens were presented :— 
Two Microscope-Sections of Altered Siliceous Sinter from Builth 
(Brecknockshire), presented by Frank Rutley, Esq., F.G.S. 
Sample of Volcanic Ash collected in Barbados, on May 7th-8th, 
1902, presented by Dr. D. Morris, C.M.G., of the Imperial Depart- 
ment of Agriculture for the West Indies. 
The PresipEN?T reported that in consonance with the resolution 
passed at the previous Meeting of the Fellows, he and Sir Archibald 
Geikie had forwarded letters to the French Minister of the Colonies 
and to H.M. Secretary of State for the Colonies, expressive of the 
sympathy of the Geological Society with the sufferers from the 
voleanic catastrophes in Martinique and St. Vincent. 
The Secretary read the following letter regarding the recent 
fall of volcanic ash in Barbados, and reported that the thanks of the 
Council had been conveyed to the writer :— 
‘Imperial Agricultural Department 
for the West Indies, Barbados, 
9th May, 1902. 
‘Dear Sir, 
‘T am sending you by this mail a small quantity of the volcanic ash that 
fell at Barbados soon after the volcanic eruption at St. Vincent on Wednesday 
last. I am also sending you newspaper reports, and you will obtain practically 
all particulars from them. ‘There is a note about the ash in the ‘ Agricultural 
News’ giving an estimate of the quantity per acre that fell in this isiand. It 
is singular that the circumstances correspond so exactly with what took place 
in 1812. Fortunately, within 4 hours after the fall of the ashes, we have had 
drenching showers which have, to a great extent, washed the ashes from the 
roofs of the dwellings and from vegetation, and also laid the dust which during 
yesterday was most trying and uncomfortable. The roads are still covered 
with a sandy coating, which is not at all muddy or sticky. Naturally, the 
chemical composition of the ash is of great interest to the planters, as it may 
have an appreciable effect on next year’s crops. The old canes have nearly all 
been reaped, and the young canes are in such a condition that they should 
largely benefit by any fertilizing properties that maybe in the ash. In the case 
of the ash that fell in 1812, Davy is said to have found it to contain silex, 
alumina, oxide of iron, and oxide of manganese. I noticed that the ash at first 
was rather coarse and of a brownish colour, then it became slightly redder, 
while the final deposits consisted of a whitish-grey, impalpable powder. I shall 
send you any further particulars that may come to hand.’ 
‘With kind wishes, believe me, 
‘The SEecrETARY, Sincerely yours, 
Geological Society, . (Signed) D. Morris.’ 
Burlington House, 
Piceadilly, London.’ 
