174 REAR-ADMIRAL F. W. BEECHEY'S ADDRESS. [May 26, 1856. 



New Publications. 



Numerous donations have been presented to the Society, includ- 

 ing 4 atlases, upwards of 350 maps and charts, and 663 volumes and 

 pamphlets ; affording an excellent proof of the desire to bring its 

 members acquainted with the publications of the day, and denoting 

 a sense of the Society's usefulness. A complete list of these will 

 be printed as usual in the Journal, and many have been specially 

 alluded to in the course of the Address. Among the donations con- 

 tributed by our own countrymen, though not at present associated 

 with us, may be mentioned the learned work on the Chinese and 

 their Eebellions, by Mr. Meadows, which will receive further 

 notice in the ' Proceedings.' 



Our associate, Mr. Alexander Keith Johnston, has completed the 

 new edition of his superb Physical Atlas. The publication of the 

 first edition of this great work, ten years since, had the effect of 

 introducing in this country almost a new era in the popular study 

 of geography, through its attractive and instructive illustration of 

 the prominent features of the science. This second edition is to 

 some extent an entirely new work, owing to the additions and 

 improvements which have been introduced. I have only to refer 

 to the names of Murchison, Forbes, Brewster, Ami Boue, and Berg- 

 haus, to stamp the high character of the work ; but I must not 

 omit to mention, among new contributions, the Geological Map of 

 Europe, by Sir Eoderick Murchison and Professor Nicol ; that of 

 America, by Professor Rogers ; General Sabine's Map of Terrestrial 

 Magnetism ; the Distribution of Marine Animals, by the lamented 

 Professor Edward Forbes ; and the addition of a large general Index 

 adds materially to the utility of this extensive compendium of 

 Natural Geography. 



The Imperial Atlas of Modem Geography, edited by our associate, 

 Dr. Blackie, of Glasgow, has reached its twelfth number. The 

 maps are very neatly and correctly executed by some of our best 

 cartographers. 



The Eoyal Illustrated Atlas, with an introductory notice on 

 the existing literature of geography, by Dr. Shaw, is also in 

 course of publication by Messrs. FuUarton, and has reached its 

 eighth part. The design of this atlas goes beyond the ordinary 

 scope of unadorned cartography, in combining with the maps, pic- 

 turesque vignettes and illustrations of the countries and their in- 

 habitants. The maps are prettily drawn according to the latest 



