32 
a long time in obtaining a suitable coating for lead to protect 
the water from its action, and had not quite succeeded ; but 
he had given his results to a friend, who had gone further, 
and, having obtained great success, patented the process. 
However, he was told that no one would buy lead pipes of 
the kind, as they cost half a crown per cwt. more than the 
ordinary ones. People complain of evils which they refuse 
to escape from. It is, however, better to avoid lead than to 
avoid pure water because of its action on lead. 
A Paper was read by Mr. Edward Hull, F.G.S., on 
the nature and objects of Geological Surveys, with special 
reference to the progress of the geological survey of Lanca- 
shire and Cheshire. 
After describing the various sources, both natural and 
artificial, on which the geological surveyor depends for his 
conclusions, and according to which he is enabled to trace the 
boundaries of the formations, the author went on to observe 
that, so generally is the vftlue of such surveys recognised, 
that the governments of nearly all the most civilised nations 
had undertaken their support. Amongst others, France, 
Belgium, Germany, Russia, the States of North America, 
the British Colonies, as Canada, New Columbia, India, 
Australia, and New Zealand. 
The Author then explained some details regarding the maps 
of Lancashire so far as they had been completed by the Geo- 
logical Survey of Great Britain. Specimens of these maps, 
both of the one-inch and six-inch scales, were exhibited to 
the Society in the course of the evening. 
