262 
PROCEEDINGS 1849 — 1858. 
those of any other person to a knowledge of this important coal-field." 
Mr. William Sykes Ward was elected Honorary Secretary in the 
place of the Rev. Wm. Thorp. Mr. Embleton and Mr. Marshall 
remained the curators of the museum. Five local Secretaries and 
Treasurers were re-appointed, they were : — For Halifax, Dr. Alex- 
ander ; Wakefield, Henry Briggs ; Sheffield, H. C. Sorby ; Doncaster, 
R. D. Baxter ; and Huddersfield, Thos. Pitt. The balance sheet 
showed a considerable deficiency, and the question was again dis- 
cussed as to the propriety of lowering the subscription so as to induce 
a larger number of persons employed in mining operations, &c., to 
join the Society. But, as at the meeting of the Council, no decision 
was arrived at. Papers were read by Mr. E. H. Durden on the 
application of Peat and its Products ; by H. J. Traice on AYilliam- 
son's improved system of Colliery Ventilation. 
During 1855 the Society exhibited greater vitality and three 
meetings were held, and several important communications were pre- 
sented to the Society. Dr. Sorby, of Sheffield, read a paper on the 
motions of waves as illustrating the structure and formation of 
Stratified Rocks, in which he adduces evidence in support of the 
theory of " current structures" in rocks of the several geological 
formations, which the author formulated at a previous meeting of the 
Society. The action of the waves on the seashore afforded informa- 
tion as to the direction of the open sea, from which tide waves pro- 
ceed ; line of coasts and portion of sandbanks ; comparative depth of 
the water and other matter extremely valuable in ascertaining the 
circumstances under which any particular formation was accumulated. 
Mr. E. W. Brayley, F.R.S., of London, spoke on the essential 
conditions of the Metamorphoses of Rocks, and Mr. Robert Hunt, 
F.R.S., read a communication on the structural character of Rock, 
and of mineral deposits as affected by electricity. In the latter 
paper some interesting experiments are described which illustrate the 
formation of metallic veins by means of an electric current continuous 
for a considerable period. Mr. E. H. Durden, of Leeds, read a paper 
on new materials for the manufacture of paper, and cites straw, 
peat, wood, and other substances as being extensively used for the 
purpose. 
