not only would Back Bay and the whole foreshore of Bombay Harbour be reclaimed without the cost of a farthing to the Back Bay, Elphinstone, Frere, Mazagon, and United Colaba Reclamation Companies, but for miles out into the Indian ocean the whole western coast of India would be in this sense "reclaimed," by the receding of the ocean, and Bombay left high and dry, "a city set on a hill" some 500 feet above the sea level; leaving its landlords, who in their ignorant selfishness fancy they owe nothing to commerce, to lament "How hath the golden city ceased!" Very slight oscillations in the Himalayas and Hindoo Kosh may, therefore, make all the difference in the Runn between its remaining the Runn, or again becoming an inlet of the ocean, and to Kattiawar between its continuing a promontory of India, or again becoming an island.

No. 1 of 1867.

To J. KING, Esq., C.S.,

Acting Under Secretary to Government, General Department, Bombay.

Bombay Geographical Society's Rooms,
Town Hall, 7th January 1867.

SIR,-In reply to your letter No. 1693, General Department, dated the 27th of August 1866, I am directed by this Society to state for the information of Government that in their opinion the question raised by the Bombay Saturday Review, in an article in its issue of August 18th, entitled "Geological Action on the south coast of Kattiawar and in the Runn," is of great importance, and can only be set at rest by observations extending over several years.

2. There should be soundings taken in the Gulf of Cambay at the same season every year, and carefully mapped; and observations made, as proposed by the Bombay Saturday Review, by mehtas at different stations on the south coast of Kattiawar and along the Runn. As to the encroachments of the sea on the coast and in the Runn, inquiries should also be made as to whether anything exists in the traditions and literature of Kattiawar throwing light on the oscillations of the land in Kattiawar. Rao Saheb Mahipatram Rupram, Deputy Educational

Inspector, and Mr. Jettyshanker, School Master at Bhooj, might be referred to for the necessary information under this head.

3. But the only way to come to a true conclusion will be to make observations on the coasts of Kattiawar, and soundings in the Gulf of Cambay, extending over at least ten years; and as regards the soundings in the Gulf repeated again and again at intervals of twenty or thirty years. Ten years' observations will be quite sufficient perhaps to determine whether the sea is encroaching on the south coast of Kattiawar and in the Runn. It may be that the Runn is subject to repeated oscillations, the effect of which, whether in depressing or raising it, will be as difficult and tedious to determine as the question of the filling up of the Gulf of Cambay.

4. The Society are also of opinion that the range of observations should be extended to Cutch and Sind on the north, and to the Northern and Southern Konkans on the south, as they believe the action of the sea on the coast of Kattiawar has a perceptible influence on the adjacent shores of Surat and the Northern Konkan.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

HENRY MORLAND,

Honorary Secretary to the Society.

At the conclusion of the above correspondence the Honourable the President said that, the ordinary business of the Meeting having come to an end, he felt sure they would all be glad to have an opportunity of expressing and recording, in the proceedings of the Society, their warm acknowledgments to its Patron, Sir Bartle Frere, for the consideration which he had always given to the affairs of the Society. His (Mr. Erskine's) connection with them was unfortunately of recent date. But there were other members whose experience extended over many years; and some of them, he was sure, would bear witness that, although many of the Society's Patrous had shown much interest in their proceedings, none had shown a more active desire to further the objects they had at heart than Sir Bartle Frere. He (Sir Bartle) had ever watched with attention the progress of scientific research and of geographical discovery in the east, and many or most of the adventurous officers who had started, of late years, from this part of the world, on exploratory journeys in India or Persia or Arabia or Africa, had enjoyed, not only the sympathy, but the advice and correspondence, of their retiring Patron. He could himself bear witness to the desire of Sir

Bartle Frere on all occasions to place, as soon as possible, at the disposal of the Society and of the public, the results of fresh discoveries, whenever he felt that he could legitimately do so. He (Mr. Erskine) believed that the records and transactions of the Society would amply bear out this statement; and, without longer detaining the Meeting, therefore, would move the Resolution which had been placed on the paper:-"That His Excellency the Honourable Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere, K.C.B., G.C.S.I., is entitled to the special acknowledgments and gratitude of the Society for the warm interest he has taken in furthering their objects, and the distinguished patronage he has extended to them during the period of his governorship of the Bombay Presidency."

The Rev. W. K. Fletcher, M.A., Vice President, said :—

"The first intimation of the intention to submit the resolution which our Honourable President has just proposed in this meeting gave me unfeigned satisfaction, for I was aware how grateful the members of the Society would feel to His Excellency Sir Bartle Frere for his undeviating support and patronage during his tenure of office. This Society have been supplied with many valuable papers by his Government, and indeed I may say by far the largest proportion of the papers read during the last five years have been forwarded by him. I can personally testify to his deep interest in all the work of the Society. I have known him personally collate papers and examine minute points of scientific geography, and always with the view of forwarding the objects of the Society.. I have great pleasure in seconding the Resolution which has been so ably proposed."

The Resolution having been put to the vote was unanimously carried by acclamation, and the Honorary Secretary was requested to communicate it to the Private Secretary for the information of His Excellency. The Meeting then adjourned to next month.

SESSION 1866-67.

FOURTH MEETING.-March 22nd, 1867.

The ordinary Monthly Meeting of the Bombay Geographical Society was held in their Rooms, Town Hall, on Friday, the 22nd March 1867,

at 5 P.M.

Present.-Commander G. T. Robinson, Vice-President, in the Chair J. Burgess, Esq., F.R.G.S., M.R.A.S.; A. C. Gumpert, Esq.; J. Macfarlane, Esq.; J. Mackinlay, Esq., Members; and Lieut. Henry Morland, F.R.A.S., F.R.G.S., Honorary Secretary.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Elections.-The Chevalier A. Thenon and D. E. Gostling, Esq.

Donations.-The undermentioned donations were laid before the Society, for which it was requested their best thanks should be conveyed to the donors :

1. Abstract of the Proceedings and Reports of the International Sanitary Conference of 1866, compiled by Dr. A. H. Leith. By the Bombay Government.

2. Papers relating to the introduction of the Survey Rates into the Sehwan Talooka of the Kurrachee Collectorate. By Government.

3. Report of the Agri-Horticultural Society of Western India for the year 1865. By the Society.

4. Bulletin of the Geographical Society of Paris for the month of February 1867. By the Society.

Letters read.-The following letters were then read :—

to

1. From A. C. Gumpert, Esq., proposing the Chevalier A. Thenon, Consul for France, as a member of the Society. 2. From Limjee Manockjee, Esq., withdrawing from the Society. 3. From Messrs. Smith, Elder, & Co., enclosing a Statement of their account made up the end of the year 1866, and requesting a remittance in liquidation of the same; and the following from the Honourable C. J. Erskine, C.S., President of the Society

"DEAR CAPTAIN MORLAND,

I wish it had been in my power to do more for the Society in which you are so much interested, and for which you have worked so effectively. But when the office of President was pressed upon me not long ago, you were aware, I believe, through Mr. Fletcher, that I could not hope to hold it long, or to take an active part in your proceedings. The time of my departure is drawing near, and I should be glad if the Society would be good enough to make such arrangements as may

be necessary for the nomination of another and more useful President, as I am constrained to resign the honourable office.

I remain, yours very truly,

Bombay, March 12th, 1867."

C. J. ERSKINE.

The Chairman then read for the approval of the Society the following Resolutions, passed at the meeting of the Committee:-

1. Proposed by Commander G. T. Robinson, Vice-President, and seconded by the Secretary :-" That the Society receive with much regret the resignation of the Presidentship by the Honourable C. J. Erskine, C.S., on his proceeding to Europe, and desire to record their thanks for his services."

2. Proposed by Commander G. T. Robinson, Vice-President, and seconded by James Burgess, Esq., F.R.G.S.. M.R.A.S.,-"That His Excellency Lieut. General Sir Robert Napier, K.C.B., R.E., Commander-in-chief of the Bombay Army, be invited to accept the Presidentship of the Society; That his Excellency the Right Honourable Seymour Fitzgerald, Governor of Bombay, be requested to honour the Society by becoming their patron, in succession to Sir Bartle Frere, K.C.B., G.C.S.I."

There being no further business before the Society, the meeting adjourned to next month,

SESSION 1866-67.

ANNUAL MEETING.-May 16th, 1867.

The Annual General Meeting of the Bombay Geographical Society was held in their Rooms, Town Hall, on Thursday, the 16th May, at 5 P.M.

Present. Manockjee Cursetjee, Esq., F.R.S.N.A., F.R.G.S., Senior Member, in the Chair; Dr. Bháu Daji, Hon. M.R.A.S.; J. Burgess, Esq., F.R.G.S., M.R.A.S.; Surgeon J. H. Sylvester, F.G.S.; J. Firth, Esq.; J. Macfarlane, Esq.; D. E. Gostling, Esq., Members; and Lieut. Henry Morland, F.R.A.S., F.R.G.S., Honorary Secretary.

The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed.