'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From December 1854 to March 1856. (New Issue.) Edited by the Secretary. Volume XII.' [‎5] (24/258)

DR. BTJIST ON THE RESUSCITATION #N THE SOCIETY.
V
at home, we fall in from time to time out of doors with charts compiled by the
Hydrographer of the Indian Navy and lithographed A lithograph is an image reproduced from a printing plate whose image areas attract ink and non-image areas repel it. at Bombay, which have
never found their way into our archives, a matter which I trust our President will
duly bring under the notice of the Commander in Chief and Commodore. [^1
laugh.'] We see by the newspapers that an expedition has lately been organized
to proceed into the Sumali country, and we have repeatedly published papers in
our Transactions on this very subject—yet unless through the newspapers we
know nothing whatever of the matter, though the alleged principal of the
mission has just completed a journey through Arabia at the instance and expense
of our London parent. The parties and the means by which this deplorable state
of matters has been brought to pass, might readily be pointed out, and will pro
bably occur to most of us, but the thing now is to see how we might best improve
our position, and I believe if the members set heartily abut it, the task need not
be a difficult one. As for twelve years Secretary of the Society, I consider my
self bound to exonerate our President from all blame in the matter. When ha
accepted office he promised to be regular in his attendance at the meetings, and
to do every thing in his power to promote our views,—but then nothing can bo
done for men who will do nothing for themselves, and as to attendance, I told
him that I should keep him informed when a quorum was likely to convene or
there was otherwise any probability of any business being transacted, and on the
few and rare occasions when such things occured, he was always to be found at
his post. I confess, I think it would have been a grievous waste of time for a
gentleman at the head of an important public department to have thought of
coming up once a month from the Marine Office to the Town Hall, when all thafc
he could have done would have been like a Scotch house-breaker to “ gang back
again.” I have not put in the form of a motion or of resolutions, the suggestions
with which I mean to conclude, because they can be carried out without such a
formality as well as with it, and no formality whatever will in aught avail us
unless we individually resolve to exert ourselves.—-They are these :— First,
That members do hereafter be more regular in their attendance, and that they
endeavor to bring with them as many of their friends, whether male or female,
as seem disposed to attend. Second, That the Secretary be instructed to seo
that papers or lectures of interest be provided for each meeting, such as may
occupy from half an hour to an hour—that these be illustrated by drawings or
specimens ; that collections of whatever may interest or attract hearing in any
way on the objects of the Society may be exhibited at the meetings, and that
suitable accommodation may be provided for the audience. Third, That all
matters of routine, generally brought before the meetings be, in as far as the
regulations allow, disposed of by the Committee, and that these last be at all
times rigidly enforced. Fourth, That a sufficient number of copies of the re
ports of the proceedings, such as are afterwards published as a preface to the
Transactions, be struck off in pamphlet form for the use of members as speedily
after the meeting as possible, and that these suggestions be endeavoured to be
carried into effect from the present time.
The Chairman, after some explanations as to the Charts not received by the