PROCEEDING S 
OF THE 
GEOLOGICAL & POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY 
OF THE 
WEST-RIDING OF YORKSHIRE. 
THE NINTH QUARTERLY MEETING WAS HELD AT BRAD- 
FORD ON THE llTH MARCH, 1840— ON THE MOTION OF 
MR. SHARP, PRESIDENT OF THE PHILOSOPHICAL SO- 
CIETY OF BRADFORD, SECONDED BY H. LEAH, ESQ., 
THE REV. DR. SCORESBY, THE VICAR, TOOK THE CHAIR. 
The Rev. Dr. Scoresby rose amidst much applause, 
and opened the proceedings as follows : — Ladies and Gentle- 
men, — Science never appears to so much advantage as when 
it is connected with its useful and practical relations ; and 
this is the position in which the society now assembled 
presents itself before us, — as a Geological and Polytech- 
nic Society. Its objects are at once interesting and 
useful, because it contemplates the acquisition of knowledge 
relating to the phenomena and the construction of the globe 
which we inhabit ; and, with regard to the practical bear- 
ings, the objects of the Society assume much importance, as 
these not only bring us into relation with the operations of 
mining, but make us acquainted with the nature and value 
of those various minerals which form so very rich a source 
of our national prosperity. (Hear, hear.) Hence, perhaps, 
no subject could be brought before the inhabitants of the 
West- Riding of Yorkshire, — one of the great mining dis- 
tricts of the country, — which, as a matter of science, as- 
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