FORMATION OF THE SOCIETY : UNPUBLISHED RECORDS. 9 
proposed, as indeed he might have seen from our first Rule — although 
we have perhaps unfortunately, adopted rather a limited title. You 
know that we had great difficulty in settKng the name, and that a 
meeting such as ours was, was not the very best for giving the most 
appropriate designation, inasmuch as many who attended came quite 
unprepared and were, perhaps naturally enough, from the presence 
of a geologist led to think more of the Geological department than 
of any other. I have urged strongly on Professor Johnston the 
desirableness of his still giving the Lecture as the best means of 
keeping the Society from the first in the right path, and if you have 
any communication with him I hope you will urge the point strongly. 
I think it of great consequence to secure such an exposition of the 
objects and means of such a Society as he seems to contemplate. I 
shall be in Leeds on Thursday and Friday, the 1st and 2nd February, 
at Scarborough's Hotel, if you should happen to be in town on either 
of those days, I shall be engaged, probably till four or five in the 
afternoon of Thursday, and from twelve to one or two on Friday, but 
I should be at liberty in the evening of Thursday or the early part of 
Friday morning. I propose having a Committee Meeting about the 
middle of the month, to make our final arrangements for the March 
meeting. I expect a fair number of subscribers, and I have two 
papers already promised. There will be a good deal for the Committee 
to do ; and the most important object for it will be to give the tone 
to the Society, if we fail in laying before them a well-digested plan of 
action, the whole thing will break down. 
I am, dear Sir, yours truly, 
Thomas Wilson. 
After a short delay the following letter was addressed to Prof. 
Johnston. Though somewhat lengthy it appears advisable to give it 
in full, because the correspondence expresses the hopes and aspira- 
tions of the founders of the Society better than any other material at 
command. 
Mr. Emhleton to Prof. Johnston. 
Newcastle, 6th February, 1838. 
My Dear Sir, 
I am obliged by your letter of 31st December, and have com- 
municated with Mr. Wilson on your intended paper, who I hope has 
