32 FORMATION OF THE SOCIETY : UNPUBLISHED RECORDS. 
remaiDS with which the Coal formation abounds. Anxious to lose no 
time in this most desirable measure, the Council have hired a building 
for a temporary museum, where they may arrange the fossils that 
may be presented to them, until such time as the subscriptions for a 
museum shall enable them to erect a suitable building. Mr. H. Holt 
has kindly undertaken the office of curator ; and it is requested that 
all donations may be directed to him. As the value of these fossils 
depends upon their systematic arrangement, it becomes an object of 
immediate importance to provide cases for their reception, and to 
construct these so as not to be unworthy of a permanent museum, 
will require about £500. The Council have pleasure in announcing 
that a subscription for this purpose has been commenced, headed by 
Earl Fitzwilliam with a donation of £50. 
The Council may appeal with confidence to the proceedings of 
the past year, in proof of the utility of the Society. They regret 
that the funds have not permitted them to print all the papers that 
have hitherto been read ; but they have felt it due to the kindness 
and liberality with which Prof. Johnston entered into the views of 
the Society at its establishment, and still more to its own intrinsic 
merits, to publish his masterly and luminous address at the Society's 
second meeting ; and they have great pleasure in placing in the 
hands of the members and the public, so comprehensive an exposition 
of the objects of the society. 
From its own members the most valuable communications have 
been received, both in the Geological and Polytechnic department. 
Two papers by Rev. W. Thorp, the fruits of long and minute ex- 
amination of the geology of the Riding, exhibit a complete view of 
present aspect and condition of the coal field ; and endeavour to 
show the circumstances that attended on, or preceded its origin. 
By the paper of Mr. Briggs on the non-identity of the Haigh 
Moor" and Rotliwell-Haigh " seams, a commencement has been 
made in that minute examination and connection of local phenomena, 
by which alone the coal measures in one part of the district can be 
identified with those of another. It is hoped that this plan, so im- 
portant for mining pursuits, and so easy to those who are engaged 
in them, will be followed up by other members. 
