8 



to Dean Buckland's detection of a mason placing a defective stone on the 

 top of a spire at Oxford. 



Mr. Mackie approved of the proposition of survey committees in con- 

 nection with the Association, hut feared that in some districts there would 

 be a difficulty in obtaining men of adequate knowledge. 



Mr. P. L. Simmonds spoke at some length on the value of economic 

 geology, and the desirability of extending the operations of the Association 

 to the colonies. 



Mr. Bollaert was glad that some of his South American friends had 

 joined, and hoped that many communications would be received from abroad. 

 He promised papers for the Transactions. 



Mr. G. H. Byerlet spoke of the advantages of the proposed survey for 

 engineering purposes, and referred to the mistakes, from ignorance, in the 

 application of discharging or absorbent artesian wells. 



Mr. F. W. Beaumont, in rising to propose a vote of thanks to Mr. 

 Clarke for his paper, took the opportunity to remark that he knew several 

 districts where the formation of this Association would be hailed with great 

 satisfaction. He considered that it would be of very great use in the min- 

 ing districts generally — South Wales, Cornwall, Staffordshire, Newcastle, 

 Scotland, &c, where much valuable information might be gradually ac- 

 cumulated, with a view to which, and as a guide to the members generally, 

 he took the liberty of suggesting that it would be highly desirable to have 

 Mr. Clarke's paper printed and circulated. He (Mr. Beaumont) also 

 deemed it desirable that all contributors should be recommended to make 

 their communicated information a mere statement of dry facts, unadulte- 

 rated with conjectures or opinions ; which, however, might be advantage- 

 ously appended. 



Mr. Hyde Clarke, in returning thanks, said he meant to persevere 

 with the measure he had proposed. 



*** The Committee desire it to be known, that the Association 

 dees not pledge itself to the opinions contained in the papers read at 

 its several meetings ; and they wish to direct attention to the scope of 

 the original design, as contained in the following extract from its 

 prospectus : — 



" That there is much need of a common means of intercommunication 

 among those who, while not devoting their lives to the pursuit, (of 

 Geology,) yet take an active interest in its facts and teachings. The 

 Geological Society is too far advanced in the strict course of scientific 

 method and treatment, to be lound available by the increasing numbers 

 of those who desire modestly to seek mutual help as learners, but shrink 

 from the assumption of ranking themselves among the illustrious Pro- 

 fefsors and Masters in the science. 



" And that to meet this want, a number of Gentlemen have organized 

 themselves into a Geologists' Association; having for its special purpose, 

 the providing those means of intercommunication and mutual help." 



