29 
because it crosses the coal field in the direction in which 
its peculiar stratification and richness is most fully 
exhibited, and because the means of obtaining accurate 
geographical and geological information are more abundant, 
and more accessible to the members of this Society, tlian 
on either of the other lines. The Bamsley line would possess 
the advantage of having the millstone grit and flagstone 
strata beautifully illustrated by the great tunnel, sinkings, 
and cuttings on the railway near Penistone. The "Wortley 
and Bradgate rocks, containing the valuable and important 
beds of coal known by the names of the Flockton, Park 
Gate, and Silkstone beds, with their associated strata of 
ironstone, would be clearly exhibited by the sinkings in 
Mr, Wilson's pits near Darton, which are the deepest in the 
county. The Woolley Edge rock, containing the thick 
Bamsley coal and other seams, would be not less distinctly 
illustrated by the borings and sinkings of the same gentle- 
man near Staincross. Farther eastward the Chevet and 
Ackworth rocks would be delineated by borings already in 
the possession of members of the society ; and the magne- 
sian limestone, by borings made near Womersley, under the 
immediate inspection of the Rev. W. Thorp. At Swine- 
fleet, the section would pass the very deep borehole 
recently made by Egremont and Co., through the new red 
sandstone and its associated beds of gypsum ; and across the 
Cave and Holderness districts, considerable geological infor- 
mation may be gained, by examining the country with the 
writings of Professor Phillips and Mr. Harcourt for guide 
books. Mr. Morton further stated, that the Bamsley line, 
if continued westward, would cross Lancashire in a more 
advantageous locaUty for investigating and illustrating that 
coal field than either of the other lines ; and he concluded 
his report by reading an extract from a letter written by 
Mr. Greenough, on the subject of these sections, wherein 
he recommends the adoption of the Bamsley line, but 
advises the Society to confine its attention solely to the coal 
measures, and deprecates the extension of this, or any 
other section, across the new red sandstone, oolite, and 
chalk districts of the East Riding. 
Mr. BiNNEY thought that the scale of the sections pro- 
posed in the report would not answer the purpose, especially 
on the Lancashire side of the ridge. To attempt to display 
the Lancashire coal field in a section of three inches to the 
mile, would be futile indeed. In the rich part of the coal 
field, about Ashton and Duck? nfi eld, they would have 45 
seams of coal within about a mile and a half. With regard 
to the particular line to be adopted, he thought it should be 
along the line of the Sheffield and Manchester Railway, as 
