'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From December 1854 to March 1856. (New Issue.) Edited by the Secretary. Volume XII.' [‎66] (83/258)

Ixvi
PROCEEDINGS OP THE SOCIETY,
As I had for twelve years—an unusual period in India to be spared to-
hold any office-had the honour of being Secretary a third ol that period
in days of great renown, inspired by somewhat of self-confidence by what I
had seen and the share I had taken in such like things in England a few
months before, I determined to make an effort as strong as it was in my power
to make it, to prevent a body, once so famous, from going to the wall so igno-
minously.
The Society at my suggestion kindly got us rid of one great source of nui-
sance—that of discussing business details, and-carrying on petty controversies
in open meeting. These were all ordered to be disposed of by Committee
out of doors, the Society reviewing or confinning where requisite As we had
no means of compelling men to send us papers, it was resolved that the Se
cretary should himself provide, or see that without fail there was prowded,
one lecture at least, of not less than half an hour in length for every meeting,
and accordingly the following have been delivered :—
\.Ath September 1854.—On the Principal Depressions on the Surface of the
Globe.
19f/i October 1854.—On the Chronometrical Survey in 1849-50, by Captain
Selby of the Mud Banks off the shores of Bombay, from Kattiawar to Vin-
gorla with observations on the water and earthy matter carried out to sea
annually from the shores of North Western India, with charts and sections
An Exhibition of the various Instruments used in Geographical pursuits, with
an explanation of their principal uses.
16fh November 1854.—On the late Hurricane, with a list of the hurricanes
in India, generally for the past century, with a particular account of those
which have prevailed in the Arabian Sea, viz. from 1st to 7th November
1783; 1st to 7th November 1799; 8th May 1819 ; 13th November 1827 ; 15th
June 1837 ; 31st Oct. 1842 ; 19th April 1847 ; and 2nd November 1854.
21sf December 1854.—On the Arctic Expedition.—On the Dunds and Salt
Formation of Sinde.
15th March 1855.—An account of a singular experiment in Evaporation
where Tides make their appearance in the exhalations of vapour—On a re
cent journey through Kattiawar and Guzerat.
Carrying out as far as possible the home custom, we have this season for
the first time managed to induce ladies to attend our meetings, and this will
we hope, extend himself, until we require to seek for airier and more extend
ed accommodation. The system of discussion following the delivery of a
lecture or reading of a paper in home societies, by far the most delightful
portion of the proceedings, is beginning to be introduced ; and in this every
Member of the Society may usually share. There are few things more dis
heartening, none more encouraging to the Secretary of a Society like this,
who is in "a manner held responsible to an extent that is sometimes unjust, for
the success of its arrangements and the popularity of its position, than the
apathy or interest taken in its proceedings by the highest of its office-bearers.
On no single occasion save one or two of special emergency,—the present is
the third or fourth,—has the gallant Admiral who has presided over us since
the Society resumed its vitality, been absent from the chair.
All our lectures have been well attended, some of them very numerously—