REPORTS OP SOCIETIES. 



151 



nace was the next point visited, and it 

 certainly struck all with astonishment to 

 see this large burning mass which was 

 almost unapproachable ; within a few 

 yards one incident attracted the attention 

 of the ladies most particularly, a little 

 kitten was observed dozing on ^the hearth 

 as comfortably as though it was by the 

 kitchen fire above ground. The next visit 

 was made to the stables where the ponies 

 and horses used in the workings are kept, 

 each of these animals without a glimpse of 

 the shining rays of the sun, seems the very 

 embodiment of contentment. On leaving 

 the stables the party bade good bye to the 

 pitmen and ascended to terra firr)ia, up- 

 wards of three hours having been spent in 

 the pit. A sumptous cold collation was 

 provided by the president of the club, at 

 the Fleece Hotel to which sixty-six sat 

 down. In the course of a speech proposing 

 a vote of thanks to the owners of the col- 

 liery and to the gentlemen who had ren- 

 dered such valuable assistance in conduct- 

 ing the excursionists through the pit, Mr, 

 Wood entered into a most instructive account 

 of the geological theory as regards the 

 formation of coal fields, he dived most ela- 

 borately into the scientific value of coal, 

 and its various products, showing beside 

 its commercial value as the great lever 

 which keeps our industrial engine in con- 

 stant motion, it had in its various pro- 

 ducts become an important auxilary to the 

 chemist who was able from the most repul- 

 sive looking of its refuse to distil the 

 sweetest perfumes, and to eliminate from 

 the same those brilliant colours which of 

 late years have so much influenced the 

 fashions, and the manufactures of the 

 country. To Mr, Lushman, the chief- viewer, 

 a gentleman to whom the party were mainly 

 indebted for the excellent arrangements 

 which had been made for securing 

 the comfort of the excurionists, and 

 more particularly for his attention 

 to the safety of the Lady visitors, 

 Mr. Wood, said they were under a debt of 

 gratitude and he begged to couple his name 



with the toast. Mr. Lushman returned 

 thanks and expressed the great pleasure he 

 had had in carrying out the wishes of the 

 owners of the colliery. Mr. John Bell, 

 then proposed " the health of Mr, Wood, 

 the president of the club," which was 

 drunk with musical honours. Eev. J. 

 Thompson of Easby proposed the health of 

 Mr. E. Wood, junr., which was briefly res- 

 ponded to by that gentleman. The health 

 of Mr. Duff was next drunk, the president 

 remarking that to his exertions in clearing 

 the way and making the preliminary ar- 

 rangements, the success of the undertaking 

 was mainly attributable. Mr. F. R. Gibbs, 

 of Northallerton, then proposed the health 

 of " the ladies" v/hich was ably responded 

 to by Mr. J. S. Walton, junr. After the 

 president had announced that Mr, Lushman 

 had promised to give them a copy of the 

 plan of the pit for the museum, the com- 

 pany broke up and took their way to the 

 railway station. On arriving at Darlington 

 the interval from six to eight, was profit- 

 ably spent at the Albert Hill Ironworks, 

 which through the kindness of the managers 

 were thrown open to the members of the 

 club. — J. AsPDiN, Secretary. 



Beitish Association for the Advance- 

 ment OF Science. 



The proceedings of the thirty-fifth 

 annual meeting of this Association 

 commenced at Birmingham, on Wed- 

 nesday evening, September 6th, when 

 Professor Phillips, the president, delivered 

 his inaugural address in the Town Hall, the 

 side galleries and floor of which were filled 

 with ladies and gentlemen in evening 

 dress. The orchestra was filled by the 

 members of council and of the several 

 committees. 



About eight o'clock Sir C. Lyell, the 

 late president, took the chair amid much 

 applause. He said it was then his duty to 

 resign into the hands of his successor the 

 office which he had the honour to hold for 

 the last year. But before quitting the 



