404 SIR RODERICK I. MURCHISON'S ADDRESS. [May 25, 1857. 



they bespeak for themselves our admiration of the beauty of their 

 execution and of the unflinching perseverance with which these 

 sei-vices were accomplished in the short period of a few months of 

 last autumn. 



Sea of Azov. — During the present session, we have received from 

 our associate, Captain Sherard Osborn, k.n. (so honourably known 

 to us by his Arctic explorations and writings), an interesting com- 

 munication on the geography of the Sea of Azov, the Putrid Sea, 

 and the adjacent coasts, with remarks on their commercial capabili- 

 ties. As the hydrographical features of this area are peculiarly 

 deserving of notice, I naturally treat of them under the head of the 

 British Naval Surveys. In no part deeper than 40 feet, the centre 

 of this sea forms a flat basin 55 miles in extent from east to west, 

 and 35 from north to south, with an inclination from the edge of 

 this level to the coast of about a foot per mile, increasing some- 

 what in abruptness as the water shallows. 



The sandy spits, which are so remarkable, and are attributed by 

 the author to volcanic action, afford a shelter against easterly winds, 

 but there is no protection in any part of the sea against those 

 from the west. When this communication was read, I confirmed, 

 from personal observation, the accuracy of Captain Osborn's re- 

 marks upon the rapid accumulation of sand on these spits ; and 

 the fact of their being precipitous on the east side and shelving 

 on the west is a good addition to our knowledge. There can be 

 no doubt, however, that the base of some of them, near the ports, 

 consists of knolls formed by the discharge of ballast from trading- 

 vessels, thus forming nuclei for fresh alluvial deposits, which, after 

 a short time, become connected together; and unless means bo 

 adopted for checking this system of accumulation, the Sea will, 

 before long, be hardly navigable in certain places. 



The assertion of M. Taitbout de Marigny, that there is little cur- 

 rent in the Sea of Azov, is shown by Captain Osborn to be an error ; 

 the existence of currents being indicated, not only by the influ- 

 ence of the winds on the motion of the water, but also being 

 plainly manifested by the outflow fiom the delta of the Don, the 

 Sivash, and the rivers between Taman and Kamisheva. The phy- 

 sical features of the Spit of Arabat, and of the Sivash or Putrid 

 Sea, are described from observations made, under very difficult 

 circumstances, during the late war. 



Mediterranean and Archipelago. — On a recent route from Malta to 

 the Dardanelles, Captain Spratt had an opportunity of obtaining a 



