a larger quantity of earthy matter. Of the collieries in the west and north-west of Shropshire, the most considerable are those of Llwyn-y-maen, near Oswestry. There are also some mines of limited extent on the borders of Herefordshire; and the Clee hills, near Ludlow, contain on their sides two or three small detached basins. The vegetable origin of coal is now clearly ascertained. The Dudley strata are entirely composed of distinct layers of plants converted into common bituminous coal. In the coal-fields of the north of England, cryptogamic vegetables and coniferæ abound in immense numbers.

The fossil plants at present ascertained in the coal strata are estimated at about 500 species.

The formation of this substance is still involved in uncertainty. It is conceived as probable that the coal-fields indicate the chief lo calities of the exuberant primeval vegetation, which being overwhelmed by a deluge, and buried in the valleys or friths and estu aries under an immense torrent of mingled earth and water, charged with carbonaceous and mineral matters, would be subject to that pressure, moisture, reclusion of air, and confined moderate warmth requisite to produce their conversion into coal. To account for the exuberance of primeval vegetation, we must remember that these northern latitudes had the high temperature and moisture now found only in tropical regions.

Coal, though enumerated under nearly 70 denominations, may properly be classed into three species. 1st.-The brown or wood coal, which is of comparatively recent geological date, and is partially distributed, and in which the change from wood to coal is clearly distinguishable in the still existing vegetable fibres. 2ndly.The black, or common pit coal, comprising the rich caking pit coal of Newcastle and other districts, including Shropshire and Staffordshire. Carbon, varying from 50 to 60 or 70 per cent., constitutes the chief ingredient. 3dly. The glance coal, found on the Continent, the United States of America, and in small quantities in Shropshire and Staffordshire. Of this, many articles of taste and ornament are fabricated.

Common pit coal, submitted to destructive distillation in an iron retort, obviously yields carburetted hydrogen, an aqueous ammoniacal liquor, and a thick fluid resembling tar; chemical analysis, however, resolves this substance into a greater number of elementary bodies, all of which are gases with the exception of the carbon. The products above enumerated yield also several valuable articles of commerce, and in consequence of immense quantities of pit coal being distilled for the production of gas, the demand for the muriate and carbonate of ammonia is principally supplied from this Pure petroleum and limpid naptha are also obtained from the same materials, and even the soot yields valuable ingredients, to which it owes its efficacy as a manure. Thus, as Dr. Buckland justly remarks, "from the wreck of forests that waved upon the surface of the primeval lands, and the ferruginous mud that was

source.

lodged at the bottom of the primeval waters, we derive our chief supplies of coal and iron, sources which contribute more than any other mineral production of the earth to increase the riches, multiply the comforts, and ameliorate the condition of mankind.”

Dr. Henry Johnson read a short but interesting paper on the animal matter which he had obtained from portions of fossil bones in the museum of the society, extracted from the Bleadon Cavern, Somersetshire, and the diluvial gravel at Lawford, Warwickshire.

A paper by Mr. W. A. Leighton, "On the Evidence of Design observable in the Vital Economy of the Colchicum autumnaie (Linn.), or common Meadow Saffron." After detailing the ресиliar structure of this plant, the writer deduced that there was abundant evidence of design manifested in the mode of its flowering, in the provisions made for its reproduction in case of the germen remaining unfertilized, and also in the relative positions of the embryonic bulb and the parent bulb.

The following papers were subsequently read: "An Analysis of the Water of Sutton Spa, near Shrewsbury;" "An Historical Account of the Parish and Church of St. Michael, within the Castle of Shrewsbury," by Mr. Henry Pidgeon; and "Some Account of a Tumulus between Rhoscolyn and Holyhead," by Mr. T. C. Eyton. This singular remain is chiefly composed of about fifty stone coffins, placed in layers one above the other, each composed of one or more flat slates placed horizontally for the bottom, on which the body rests, with others for the sides and top. The interstices between the body and the sides of the coffin were filled up with shells of species now found on the shore, and the intervals between the coffins with sand. An examination of the bones determines them to be those of adult males. The tumulus is partially destroyed by the sea, which has made evident encroachments on this part of the coast. There is a tradition, that the summit was crowned with a pile of stones, nearly all trace of which is now obliterated.

Mr. Henry Pidgeon exhibited and presented to the society a leaden seal, once appended to a bull of Pope Gregory X. (who died 1276), found in an excavation made near an old house in Coleham, Shrewsbury, during the present year. On the obverse is GREGORIVS PP X; and on the reverse, two full faces under a rude canopy, bearing in front a crosier, and inscribed above with the letters SPA S PE: meaning Sanctus Paulus, Sanctus Petrus.

The General Annual Meeting was held on Thursday, Nov. 17. Dr. Du Gard, one of the Vice-Presidents, having taken the chair, delivered a brief and apposite address. After expressing the regret which he was sure would be felt by all present, at the absence of the President of the Society (the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry) on account of indisposition, and briefly adverting to the objects and exertions of the Society, especially the desirableness of founding at this time, a proper building for a permanent Museum, he concluded by proposing, on behalf of the council, that Lord Viscount Clive (on whose public character and amiable disposition he pronounced

a merited eulogium) should be elected President of the Society for the ensuing year, which was seconded by R. A. Slaney, Esq., and carried by acclamation.

The report, after congratulating the members on the general progress of the society, and on the increase of its numbers, proceeded to state the income and expenditure of the first year of the society's establishment, and next adverted to the numerous and valuable donations to the museum. Major Wakefield had presented an extensive and fine collection of birds from Australia: about one hundred other foreign birds had been obtained by purchase or exchange, and many British birds had been sent to the museum by gentlemen in the county, which would form the nucleus of an interesting collection.After mentioning the donations to the cabinet of entomology, by the Rev. F. W. Hope, Mr. Watkins, and Mr. T. C. Eyton, and the additions to the other branches of zoology, the report proceeded to notice the progress made in the botanical department by the donations of Mr. J. E. Bowman, F.L.S., of Mr. W. A. Leighton, Mr. Babington, and others; and the instructive arrangement of the plants indigenous to Shropshire by Dr. Wilson. Mr. Bowman had also added to the society's collection of fossil plants, and an interesting specimen, containing the remains of a new species of fossil fish, had been presented by the Rev. T. T. Lewis, from the silurian rocks in the vicinity of Ludlow. Among the donations to the library, that of the Rev. Canon Newling was particularly noticed, comprising the original copper-plates of a very rare work, Lister's edition of Goedartius on Insects, 1685. Several works were noticed with peculiar pleasure as the productions of members of the society, particularly that of Mr. T. C. Eyton on the rarer British birds; and a hope was expressed that the important geological discoveries and facts in natural history disclosed in the interesting extracts of Mr. C. Darwin's letters from South America, would hereafter be given to the world more fully by their learned and diligent author.

The erection of a suitable building for a museum, and the formation of a botanic garden, was earnestly recommended to the attention of the meeting, and a committee was appointed, consisting (among others) of the Viscount Clive, Earl Darlington, Hon. R. H. Clive, Sir Baldwin Leighton, Hon. T. Kenyon, Rev. Dr. Kennedy, Mr. Slaney, and other gentlemen, with power to add to their number. The various resolutions were proposed and seconded by the Earl of Darlington, the Rev. B. H. Kennedy, the Hon. R. H. Clive, R. A. Slaney, Esq., the Hon. T. Kenyon, Sir Baldwin Leighton, Bart., Dr. Goldie, and the Viscount Clive. The following were appointed the Officers and Council of the Society for the ensuing year: President - The Viscount Clive; Vice-Presidents Thos. Du Gard, M. D., R. A. Slaney, Esq., T. C. Eyton, Esq., Rev. Dr. Kennedy; Treasurer-Thos. Eyton, Esq.; Secretaries-Dr. H. Johnson and Mr. W. A. Leighton; Council-Mr. John Carline, T. F. Dukes, Esq., George Goldie, M. D., Mr. H. Pidgeon, T. Sutton, Esq., Mr. J. Whitney, Henry Bloxam, Esq., Mr. T. Blunt,

T. W. Wilson, M. D., J. E. Bowman, Esq., W. W. How, Esq., Rev. F. Thompson.

The Earl of Mountnorris, the Rev. Canon Newling, of Lichfield, and Dr. Charles Hastings, F.G.S., &c., of Worcester, were unanimously elected honorary members of the Society.

The business of the meeting having been brought to a close, J. B. Williams, Esq., moved, and T. N. Parker, Esq., seconded, a vote of thanks to Viscount Clive, for his admirable conduct in the chair, which was carried unanimously.

STAINES LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION.

IN November, 1834, a few literary and scientific residents of Staines and its vicinity, fully sensible of the advantages to be derived by the formation of institutions for the promotion of science and literature, decided upon the establishment of a Society, which was opened January 1, 1835, by an able and eloquent address delivered by the Rev. Dr. Jones,* explanatory of the objects of the society, which was printed at the unanimous request of a crowded audience. It is gratifying to observe that the encouragement received by this body was mainly owing to the kindness of individuals in coming forward to deliver gratuitous lectures. Amongst the earlier lectures the following may be mentioned :-Opening address by the Rev. Dr. Jones; on the Antiquities of Egypt, by Mr. Stackhouse; on the Supporters of Combustion, by Mr. F. Curtis; on Optics, by Mr. W. B. Byng; on the Antiquities of Britain, by Mr. Stackhouse; on Poetry, by the Rev. J. Hearn; on Geology, by W. M. Higgins, F.G.S.; on Pneumatics, by Mr. Bennett; and a concluding address, by the Rev. Dr. Jones. Stimulated by the brilliant success of the first season, which closed April 28, 1835, and animated by the cheering prospects for the future, it was resolved to erect a building for the use of the Institution, with a lecture room, library, and museum, at an estimated expense of £1000, in shares of £25 each. The committee found, with pleasure, the support they expected realized; all the shares were soon taken, plans for the building were procured, and the present beautiful edifice was erected.

The season was opened in the new building, on January 1, 1836, by a masterly introduction of the president, John Gibbons, Esq., and an address by the Rev. Dr. Jones, which was followed by many excellent speeches, from Col. Wood, M.P., G. S. Harcourt, Esq., and Henry Pownall, Esq. Rules for the guidance of the Institution were subsequently framed, and are distributed gratis, upon application. The lectures delivered during the second season, ending

* This address, with two others, likewise delivered by Dr. Jones before the same Society, have been printed in a separate form, and amply repay perusal.-EDS.

May 3, 1836, were-Opening address, by Dr. Jones; on the Advantages of Education, by the Rev. E. Craig; on Poetry, by the Rev. J.Hearn; Study and Advantages of Natural Philosophy, by W. Higgins; on Heat, by Mr. W. F. Curtis; on Electrical Phenomena, by W. M. Higgins; on Light, by Mr. W. B. Byng; on Painting, by the Rev. W. Russell; on Pneumatics, by R. Smith, Esq.; on Palestine, by the Rev. R. Porter; on the Eye (repeated by request), by J. N. Heale, Esq.; on the Philosophy of History, by G. Bennett, Esq.; on Light, by Mr. W. B. Byng; on the formation of a habit of Scientific Inquiry, by the Rev. E. Craig ; concluding Address of the season, by Dr. Jones. To meet the convenience of the neighbouring gentry, several of these lectures were delivered in the morning, all of them to respectable, and many to crowded, audiences.

The officers of the society are as follows-Trustees, Rt. Hon. Sir W. H. Fremantle, Col. T. Wood, M.P., G. S. Harcourt, Esq., Rev. R. Govett, A.M., vicar of Staines, Henry Ashby, Esq. President, John Gibbons, Esq. Vice-presidents, Rev. R. Govett, A.M., Rev. R. Jones, D.D., M.R.S.L., H. Pownall, Esq. Treasurer, W. B. Byng, F.R.A.S. Committee, Mr. T. Ashby, jun., Mr. C. Finch, S. F. Davis, Esq., Mr. F. Ashby, Mr. J. Jackson, Mr. W. Holgate, jun., J. Dobinson, Esq., G. Bennett, F.L.S., Rev. E. Craig, M.A., F.R.S.E., Rev. R. Porter, Mr. H. Ashby, Mr. J. N. Heale. Honorary Secretaries, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Richings.

The funds of this society are in a flourishing state, and its prospects otherwise cheering and encouraging. We sincerely hope it will continue to be supported with the same praiseworthy zeal which prompted its establishment, and trust that the library and museum will rapidly increase by the liberality of the inhabitants of Staines and its neighbourhood.

WARWICKSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY AND

ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

The first Quarterly Meeting of the members of this flourishing association was held at Warwick, on the 22nd of October, Sir H. Dryden, Bart., in the chair. The Chairman congratulated the members upon the success which had already attended the formation of the society, and the prospects they had before them of soon obtaining not only a most numerous list of subscribers, but also a most beautiful and valuable collection of natural curiosities; and it afforded him the greater satisfaction, since the pursuit of the sciences was a purely tranquil and contemplative one, and as such must meet with the increased consideration and support of the county. After passing a warm eulogium on Dr. Buckland, and expressing the high respect and admiration he felt for the talents and attainments which had enabled that eminent individual who sat near them to