74 
Ordinary Meeting-, November 30th, 1858. 
J. C. Dyer, Vice-President, in the Chair. 
A remark having been made relative to the spots on the 
sun’s disc which had of late been sufficiently large to be visible 
to the naked eye, by the simple use of a smoked glass. Pro- 
fessor Calvert noticed the researches of Secchi, proving the 
extraordinary influence on terrestrial magnetism which is 
occasioned by such spots. 
Dr. Clay exhibited a specimen of the Atlantic Cable. 
The gutta percha had gradually contracted in length until the 
iron wires projected considerably beyond it. He considered 
that this fact might throw light on the cause of the rupture of 
the gutta percha and consequent loss of insulation which had 
taken place. 
Mr. Binney made the following communication respecting 
the Toadstone of Doveholes. For many years Doveholes, 
near Chapel-en-le-Frith, has supplied the City of Manchester 
with lime, and the Peak Forest Canal was made chiefly for 
the transport of that article. Doveholes not only yields lime- 
stone, but very hard Dunstone, or Toadstone, the provincial 
names of trap rock in Derbyshire, suitable for paving and road 
making. The Derbyshire traps are very variable in their 
nature, some being quite soft, whilst others equal in h^i-dness 
the toughest Whinstones of Scotland. The Doveholes stone 
belongs to the latter class. On examining the quarry there, 
the other day, in company with Professor Roscoe, of Owens 
College, I found the beds to occur in the following descending 
order : — 
Ft. In. 
Surface and lime rubbish 2 0 
Limestone with an uneven under surface ... 2 6 
Greenish brown clay 6 0 
Hard Toadstone, exposed 12 0 
Proceedings No. 6 .— Session 1858 - 9 . 
