PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



GEOLOGICAL & POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY 



AT THE SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING, HELD IN THE HALL OF THE 

 mechanics' INSTITUTE, AT WAKEFIELD, ON WEDNESDAY, 

 THE 18th DECEMBER, 1844. 



Henry Briggs, Esq., was called to the Chair, and 

 opened the meeting with a few very appropriate remarks, 

 in which he expressed an earnest hope that the public might 

 by some means be induced to take more interest in the 

 proceedings of this Society. He feared some misappre- 

 hension existed as to the objects and nature of the Society. 

 It was not only a Geological one, but also Polytechnic. 

 This was a comprehensive title — anything useful to man- 

 kind, every improvement in machinery, manufactures, and 

 agriculture. Now that such a spirit exists for railroads, 

 nothing better could be in existence than a Society of this 

 kind, to render the transit of passengers and goods as safe 

 as possible. A little more exertion on the part of the 

 members might widen the sphere of the Society consider- 

 ably. He (the Chairman) hoped to see greater interest 

 manifested in the proceedings. Many members might 

 imagine that it was very difficult to produce a paper to 

 read at the meetings. He (the Chairman) never promised 

 to produce a paper, for he was always at a loss how to 

 commence ; but when he once sat down, he then could 



