The drift seen in the south part of Hampshire also 
presents an interesting example of oscillating current 
structure. In the same manner as the line of oscillation 
of the axis of the estuary of the tertiaries is parallel to the 
Pyrenees, that of the drift is parallel to the subsequent 
direction of elevation of the chalk and tertiaries of the Isle 
of Wight, which would determine that of the branch of the 
sea in which it was deposited. The fact of its structure, 
indicating oscillating currents, shews that whether trans- 
ported or not by any sudden disturbance, as some geologists 
suppose, at all events its final arrangement was regulated 
by ordinary tidal influence. 
W. S. Ward, Esq., F.C.S., of Leeds, proposed a vote of 
thanks to Mr. Sorby for his Paper, which was of a most 
important character. He considered their Society was not 
established in vain, if they could only produce once a year 
such a Paper as that which had just been read. The Chair- 
man had expressed his regret at the small attendance on 
that occasion. It was no doubt a source of regret, but not 
in so high a degree as expressed by the Chairman. They 
could not expect that a very great number of persons would 
take a deep interest in matters of this kind — at any rate 
such an interest as to induce them to leave their places of 
business in order to attend a distant meeting. Meeting, 
however, was not the sole object of the Society. It had 
great claims on the inhabitants of the W^est Riding as a 
vehicle for the publication of the scientific researches of its 
Members, whether they related to this locality or not. Then, 
with regard to the Paper which had just been read, he would 
say that if it had only been listened to, it would have been of 
little value, inasmuch as there were few whose minds were 
sufficiently capacious to grapple with the arguments adduced 
in favour of new opinions in scientific matters without some 
previous knowledge on the subject. He, for one, would 
