PROCEEDINGS 1841 — 1848. 
179 
been considered of primary importance, and in order that the numerous 
specimens which had already been contributed to the Museum at 
Wakefield might be systematically arranged, the Council decided to 
engage a resident curator for a temporary period, with the view of 
permanently continuing the appointment, if experience should render 
that course advisable. Liberal contributions of fossils were acknow- 
ledged, and a hope expressed that members who were able to afford 
assistance of this kind would do so. Professor Liebig, of Giessen ; 
Professor Daubeny, of Oxford ; and Dr. Lyon Playfair, were elected 
honorary members of the Society. The office vacated by Mr. Wilson 
was filled by the election of Mr. Joseph Travis Clay, of Rastrick, as 
honorary secretary and treasurer ; and Messrs. T. W. Embleton and 
Mr. Henry Holt were re-elected honorary curators. The financial 
statement showed an expenditure of £175 9s. 9d., (with a balance of 
£11 in the hands of the treasurer), £45 of which had been expended 
in the purchase of cases, maps, etc., for the Museum. During the 
following year, 18 new members were elected, and 11 resigned, 
but the list was carefully corrected, and a number of names 
erased, who, from removal or other causes, had ceased to qualify, 
and the number now on the books was 299. Four meetings were 
held during the year, at Bradford, Halifax, Leeds, and Doncaster, 
the one at Doncaster in August being a combined meeting of this 
Society with that of the Yorkshire AgTicultural Society, to hear a 
paper by the Rev. William Thorp, on the best modes of judging 
of the fertility of soils. A general feeling of gTatification was ex- 
pressed at the co-operation of the two Societies (which have many 
subjects of common interest), and the Council looked forward with 
pleasure to the prospect of future opportunites of interchanging 
information of a mutually interesting character. Twelve papers were 
read during the year, and the Council considered that they indicated 
that the enquiring spirit which so peculiarly marked that age was 
fully developed in the West Riding, and must be highly satisfactory 
to every supporter of the Geological and Polytechnic Society. It was 
reported that progTess had been made with the line of section con- 
necting the West Riding Coal-field with that of Lancashire. Two of 
the divisions were completed, viz., that surveyed by Mr. Bull, which 
