PROCEEDINGS 1839 — 1840. 
83 
made by the Rev. ^Y. Thorp on the Disturbance of the Strata in the 
valley of the Don, and subjects relating to the Lancashire and York- 
shire Coal-fields, and Mr. T. P. Teale on the Fossil Fishes of the 
Coal-field. The Committee appointed to recommend a line of section 
had produced two reports, and the extensive section of the minerals 
on the Wentworth House estate, and a part of the same section in 
the neighbourhood of Darton, had been described by ^Ir. Biram and 
Mr. Morton. In the Polytechnic department the value of the appli- 
cation of Chemistry to Geology was illustrated by j\Ir. West on the 
proportion of Sulphur in Coals, and Mr. Teale's paper on the influence 
of atmospheric moisture on the manufacture of Iron. Mr. Hartop 
has contributed observations on the form of Boilers, and Mr. Morton's 
remarks on Mr. Fletcher's Safety Lamp, and Mr. Sykes Ward's 
application of the Drummond light forcibly exhibited the two great 
defects of the most valuable invention of Davy. The methods of 
recording and delineating geological and mining operations and in- 
formation were fully explained by Mr. Sopwith in his description of 
the principle of Isometric projection, and by the exhibition of his 
admirable model of the Forest of Dean. 
The Council 'regretted that the number of those who contribute 
papers is so small. There must be in the ranks of the Society many 
who in the course of their daily experience are constantly meeting 
with important information, but who, it is believed, are deterred from 
coming forward by the supposition that only a long and elaborate 
paper is w^orthy of the Society's attention ; such an opinion cannot 
be too soon abandoned, nor can they be too often reminded that the 
communication of any fact connected with the objects of the Societ}^, 
however simple and briefly related, is of great importance.' This 
paragTaph so thoroughly expresses the feelings of the Council at the 
present day, that it appears desirable to give the extract in e.rtenso, 
as that the members may take note of one of the difiiculties which 
has remained with those more particularly interested in its proceedings, 
from its institution, through half a century to the present time. 
The report concludes with a reference to the museum which it 
was decided to form. " In the commencement of the Society's career, 
the council, indulging the hope of being able to erect a suitable 
