20 FORMATION OF THE SOCIETY : UNPUBLISHED RECORDS. 
Johnston was at this thne acting as Honorary Secretary to the British 
Association at its meeting in 1838, at Newcastle-on-Tyne. He con- 
tributed several papers on fire-damp, the Davy lamp, and on the 
ventilation of mines to tlie chemical section of the Association. Mr. 
Embleton forwarded to Newcastle, specimens of the new metal 
Middletonite, to be exhibited at the British Association. 
At the General Meeting held at Wakefield on September 6th, 
1838, the chair was occupied by the Hon. "W. S. Lascelles, M.P. 
After a number of fossils from the Chevet Rock had been presented 
to the Society by Lady Pilkington, the chairman called upon Henry 
Briggs, Esq., of Overton, to read a paper on the Strata between 
Flockton and ]\Iiddleton Coals. Other important business was trans- 
acted. G. B. Greenough, after his election as an honorary member, gave 
an address on the proposed museum. A report of this meeting was 
prepared by Mr. Thos. W. Embleton, assisted by Mr. Chas. Morton, 
and sent to some of the principal newspapers. The following is ab- 
stracted from the "Sheffield Independent" of September 22nd : — 
The third meeting of the Geological and Polytechnic Society of 
the West Riding of Yorkshire, was held in the Music Saloon, Wake- 
field, on Thursday, the 6th of September. The Hon. W. S. 
Lascelles, M.P., presided, and in an appropriate address, apologised 
for taking the chair on such an occasion, as he had no pretensions to 
the name of a practical geologist. He remarked generally on the 
great utility of the science, and alluded to its importance in con- 
nexion with the extensive mining and manufacturing district. He 
expressed his conviction that the pursuit of geology is in no way 
hostile to but entirely in unison with the interests of religion. 
After the election of new members, and other preliminar)^ busi- 
ness had been concluded, the Secretary read a communication from 
Dr. Walker, of Huddersfield, describing two fossils recently found by 
him, which were further illustrated by drawings. 
The Rev. S. Sharp directed attention to some fossils from the 
Chevet Rock, presented by Lady Pilkington ; and, in moving the 
thanks of the meeting to her Ladyship, he expressed a hope that ladies 
and gentlemen connected with the society would furnish the museum 
with specimens from the strata in the vicinitj" of their respective 
residences. 
