6 
REPORT OF 
contemplated for the kingdom. Its especial aim has been to 
collect information respecting its own county ; and the end to 
which it aspires has been described in a former Report to be 
4 the execution of such a history of Yorkshire as the Antiquary 
and the Natural Philosopher may be contented to possess.’ But 
how greatly will the importance of this object be heightened 
when it is incorporated into a national system, and when 
all the results of our inquiries become part of the materials 
of a far more extensive analysis ! It could not but be felt 
before by a provincial Society, that in executing the task which 
it had undertaken, advice and consultation were wanted. With 
how much more confidence may it now proceed, when it has the 
advantage of consulting with the Committee of this great national 
Association ! In comparing the views which it entertains and 
the methods which it employs, with those that may be offered 
to its consideration, how largely may it profit by such a com¬ 
merce, without sacrificing any portion of its real dignity or 
independence ! 
The first accomplishment which the Society had the satis¬ 
faction to witness of its designs as a County Institution, was 
the valuable publication in which its Secretary, Mr. Phillips, 
described the Geological relations of the north-eastern dis¬ 
trict of Yorkshire, and delineated its fossils with so much 
accuracy and success. The Council are happy in being able 
to state that, having since proceeded to combine materials for a 
continuation of the work, its author now proposes to publish 
by subscription a similar survey of the north-western part of 
the county, in which his labours will have this additional 
interest, that he has there, not only a highly interesting field 
of research, but one of which the greatest part has never been 
before described. 
In the Botanical department of the natural history of 
Yorkshire, a material advance it is hoped will be made, in a 
