Proceedings. A487 
By Mr, Adam Jackson, of Ross, a collection of fac-similes of some 
remarkable documents, and of autographs of many celebrated persons, 
By Mr. Robert Pringle Stuart, A.P.M. of George Town, a very beauti- 
ful specimen of Iron Pyrites (white variety), arranged in a fasciated aci- 
cular or fibrous form, with a fragment of limestone from the quarry at 
‘Middle Arm,” on the Tamar River, where it is said to have been pro- 
cured about 15 fect beneath the surface. 
By Mr, W. G. Elliston, a good spirit preparation of portion of the Glottis 
of the Larynx of an Albatross. 
By Lieutenant Young, H.E.1.C.S., the skin ofa wild sheep from Thibet, 
The Secretary placed on the table specimens of the five fect seam of 
Bituminous Coal, recently passed through by the Douglas River Coal 
Company at a depth of 188 fect from the surface, 
This led to an animated discussion on the economie value of the several 
coal-fields of the island, and on the measures set afoot, or now in contem- 
plation, for bringing coal from various of them into the market. 
His Excellency the President stated that he had lately visited the 
Mersey and Don Rivers, and examined the deposit of coal there—that he 
had found the seam two feet six inches in thickness, dipping about one in 
ten, and that the coal it yields is of the finest quality—that in working it 
extensively the rapidity of the dip may create difficulties, and that shifts in 
the strata appear to prevail—that a tramroad nearly of the same length as 
that now in progress from Wabb’s Harbour to the Douglas Coal Company’s 
pits will be required, but that the Mersey affords every facility that could 
be desired for shipment of the coal when once brought down. The trial 
shaft now being sunk by Williams on the west side of the Mersey above 
the township has been carried down 150 to 200 fect, and there is yet no 
appearance of coal. His Excellency inspected the beds of combustible 
schist (Dysodile ?) on the Mersey, and has sent a quantity of it to Sir 
Henry De La Beche, to have it exaimined at the Museum of Economic 
Geology, London. ‘The practicability of forming a tramway from 
‘Mount Nicholas,” at DBreak-o’-Day, through St. Mary’s Pass to 
George’s River, so as to introduce the magnificent coal of that dis- 
trict into the market, was fully distussed; and considering the engineer- 
ing difficulties to he overcome, and the great length of road unavoidably 
necessary, it appeared to be the impression that a sum of £35,000 at 
least would be absorbed before coal could be delivered at the place of 
shipment. His Excellency observed that the great thickness and position 
of the coal-seam on Mount Nicholas would give it vast advantages were 
the road once formed, as the coal would be worked and brought out by adit, 
-and that there never could occur any embarrassment from water, the fall 
to the plains below being several hundred feet; and that both there and at 
St. Mary’s Pass the circumstance of a rapid descent might be turned to 
account, so as to make the loaded waggons draw up by their descent the 
empty waggons on their return. 
In reply toa remark made on the supposed failure of the beds of coal 
