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189 
Thb Geological JLym Polytechnic Society of the West Eiding of York- 
shire originated at a meeting of the coal proprietors of that district, held in 
Wakefield, on Friday, December 1st, 1837, Thos. Wilson, Esq., of Banks Hall, 
near Barnslcy, in the Chair. The extent and importance of the Yorkshire Coal- 
field, comprising not less than 462 square miles, and the imperfeet infonnatioii 
possessed respecting its numerous beds of coal and ironstone, having been 
considered, and also that in the winning and working of the same a large amount 
of capital "was embarked, and extensive machinery and a numerous population 
employed, it was suggested that great advantages would result from the institu- 
tion of a Society for collecting and recording Geological and Mechanical Informa- 
tion, with the accuracy and minuteness necessary for the successful prosecution 
of mining. These objects, it was hoped, would be most efi'ectually attained by 
the formation of a collection of maps, plans, sections, models, mining records, 
and every kind of information respecting the geological structure of the 
country; the construction ultimately of a complete geological map or model; 
the formation of a museum, as well of the various fossils and mineral products 
of the disti-ict, as of di-a wings and models of the machinery and tools employed 
in mining; the consideration of the various systems of ventilation in use; the 
holding of public meetings in the principal towns of the West Eiding, foi- 
reading communications and discussing topics connected with these subjects; 
the publication of papers, reports, and transactions ; and the corresf)onding and 
co-operating with the metropolitan and other similar societies. While these 
subjects would occupy the principal attention of the society, it was considered 
desirable (particularly as there was no other society embracing these objects) 
to extend its operation to whatever was connected with the staple manufactures 
of tlie West Eiding ; together with the bearings of geology and chemistry 
upon agriculture, and the application of mechanical inventions to the conomon 
arts of life. 
This proposal having met with the unanimous approbation of the meeting, 
immediate steps were taken for organising the Society, of which forty gentle- 
men at once signified their wish to become members, and the Eight Hon. Earl 
Fitzwilliam, F.E.S., accepted the office of President. 
The preliminary business having occupied the first two or three sittings, 
Professor Johnston, of Durham, in May, 1838, delivered the first public lectiure, 
" On the Economy of a Coal-field," which was published in a separate form. 
The following papers were submitted at the subsequent Meetings, of which 
no permanent record is preserved, except in tlie local journals of the period : — 
"On the Dislocations in the Valley of the Don," by H. Hartop, Esq. 
" Hlustrations of the Geology of the Yorkshii-e Coal-field," by the Eev. W. 
Thorp. 
" On the Inefficiency of the Compass for Mineral Surveying, and Suggestions 
for taking the Magnitude of Angles," by C. Morton, Esq. 
"On the Mode of Ventilation adopted at Middleton Colliery," by T. W. 
Embleton, Esq. 
On the Non-identity of the Haigh Moor and Eothwell Haigh Seams," by 
Henry Briggs, Esq. 
^' A Comparison of the Yorkshire and Lancashire Coal-fields," by the Eev. 
W. Thorp. 
'* On the Miners' Safety Fuze," by T. W. Embleton, Esq. 
" On an Improved Safety Lamp, and Suggestions for Lighting Mines by 
means of the Fire Damp," by Mr. Fletcher. 
" Remarks on the Section from the Bradgate Eock to the Forty Yards Coal 
at Middleton," by T. W. Embleton, Esq. 
" On the Geology of the Neighbourhood of Sheffield," by the Eev. W. Thorp. 
•* On the Utility of Geology as applied to Mining, Agriculture, and the Arts," 
by C. Morton, Esq. 
The printed Proceedings of the Society, therefore, commence with the 
Meeting held at Leeds, December 6th, 1839. 
