148 
ON THE MINERAL SPRINGS OF THE PARISH OF HALIFAX, 
GEOLOGICALLY CONSIDERED, BY W. ALEXANDER, ESQ., 
M. D., HALIFAX. 
One great design of the Geological department of the 
West-Riding Society, in its migratory visitations, is, I 
believe, the acquisition of local information of a practical 
kind. Its object is, patiently to explore and accurately 
examine the present existing arrangements of mineral masses, 
and the phenomena to which they give rise, so as to collect 
facts, and convert the results to useful economical purposes, 
rather than enter upon speculations of a vague and uncertain 
character, as to the past operations of nature. 
It will be thus, that the difficulties met with will be over- 
come, — that Geological problems will be solved and wisely 
interpreted, — that the Gordian knot will ultimately be un- 
ravelled, and this branch of natural science, by universal 
consent, placed in the elevated position to which it is 
entitled. 
In accordance with this plan, I have endeavoured to 
restrict myself to a plain statement of what appears to be 
the stratification of this parish, and the relation which the 
springs bear to it ; and in extenuation of the very imperfect 
manner in which my subject is treated, I must observe, that 
it was undertaken at the suggestion of the Honorary Secre- 
tary as being new to the Society ; and with respect to the 
Geology of this district, I must plead the general absence of 
information either in any published works or private acces- 
sible source to which reference might have been made for 
assistance in confirmation of my own views. 
-The very detached manner, variable thickness, and transi- 
tion into a gritstone of finer grained texture, which the Mill- 
stone Grit presents in different localities, being sometimes 
wanting, and again appearing at distant points, are very em- 
