THE LAST DECADE. 
397 
connected with the geological or chemical constitution of the mineral 
Avater.s of Harrogate, were read. The interest of this meeting, com- 
bined with the hospitality of its chairman, will long be remembered. 
The annual meeting was held at the Philosophical Hall, Leeds, the 
chair being occupied by Professor Bodington, Principal of the York- 
shire College. The number of members during the year had been 
increased to two hundred and twenty, twenty-six of whom had com- 
pounded for their annual subscription. 
In 1885 three meetings were held, the tirst at ^lalton, in the East 
Riding. Before the meeting the members pr(jceeded to Setrington 
and North Grimston, where Mr. C. Fox Strangways, of H.M. Geo- 
logical Survey, pointed out and explained the geological features of 
tlie district. Quarries in coralline oolite were visited and fossils 
obtained. The meeting was held at the Talbot Hotel, and the Rev. 
E. Maule Cole, in the absence of Sir Charles Strickland, occupied the 
chair. The second meeting was held at York in September, and the 
President, the IMarquis of Ripon, who had returned from India, 
occupied the chair. He received a very hearty reception, and con- 
giatulations on his successful occupancy of the position of Viceroy 
during the last five years ; the members afterwards adjourned to the 
Station Hotel. The third meeting was at Leeds in October. The 
honorary secretary, in his annual report, had to state the unfortunate 
loss the Society had sustained by the deaths of Viscount Halifax and 
Lord Houghton. The number of members was two hundred and ten, 
which, in the following year was increased to two hundred and fifteen. 
The finances of the Society wore in a flourishing condition, eighty- 
two pounds standing to the credit of the general account, and two 
hundred and seventeen pounds to that of the composition fees. These 
sums were still further increased, and early in 1887 it was decided to 
invest three hundred and fifty pounds in a mortgage with the Halifax 
Corporation, an additional twenty pounds still standing to the credit 
of the Society. 
In 1886, the members met at Barnsley ; they had an excursion 
to Leyburn in Wensleydale ; and the annual meeting was held at 
Wakefield. At the latter, Mr. T. W. Embleton, one of the founders 
of the Society, presided, and delivered an address on the history of 
