266 Notices and Proceedings of Scientific Societies, 



LONDON. 



Royal Geographical Society March 14. Lord Goderich, President, i» 



the chair. Mr Lloyd's paper on the Isthmus of Panama was conclvided. 



The following communications were then made from the chair : — That 

 several members of the society had suggested to the council that its objects 

 would be essentially advanced by appointing committees to pursue particular 

 branches of research, which suggestions were much approved of; and it had 

 been resolved, in consequence, that those members who might be inclined to 

 afford their assistance in carrying this plan into operation, should be invited 

 to communicate with the secretary on the subject. 



Also, that at the ordinary meetings of the society, the business of the 

 evening being concluded, any member present who might wish to offer any 

 remarks, or to make any inquiries relating to the subject of the paper pre- 

 viously read, or could communicate any farther information on it, should be 

 invited by the council to do so. 



This measure had already been attended with great benefit at the meet- 

 ings of the Geological Society. By such communications, a free discussion 

 has been carried on among the members, by which much information has 

 been elicited and disseminated. 



The committees particularly recommended by the council ajce as follow, 

 viz. 



A statistical committee, to make the vast subject of statistics its sole 

 object, and to supply the place of a statistical society in this country, as 

 established in Paris. 



A colonial committee, having for its object the geography of the British 

 colonies, as well as those of other countries, or, what may have formerly 

 been so, as may be hereafter determined.. 



A committee for the purpose of obtaining the most accurate and com- 

 plete geographical knowledge of a particular kingdom or country, which may 

 serve as a model for the adoption of others established for a similar 

 purpose with regard to other parts of the world. 



Although the labours of such committees might necessarily be incomplete, 

 they would tend to shew in their progress the want of information respect- 

 ing countries with which we are most familiar, and would probably be the 

 means of procuring it, by directing inquiry to the proper quarter. The 

 second of these committees is likely to be of considerable public utility in 

 questions regarding the geography of our colonies. There are points and 

 considerations of a political nature with which it would be quite foreign 

 to the labours of such a committee to interfere. But the features of the 

 country, and its quality in a physical point of view, fairly and impartially 

 represented, would not only be of service to the public, but beneficial to 

 government. 



Royal Society Jan. 13 and 20, 1831. A paper was read on the equi- 

 librium of fluids ; and the figure of a homogeneous planet in a fluid state ; 

 by James Ivory, Esq. A.M. F.R.S. 



Jan. 27. A paper was read on the probable electric origin of all the 

 phenomena of terrestrial magnetism ; by Peter Barlow, Esq. F.R.S. Corr. 

 Mem. Inst. France, and of the Imp. Acad. St Petersburg. 



Feb. 3. A paper was read on the lunar theory. Communicated by Dr 

 Lardner. 



Feb. 10. Davies Gilbert, Esq. V.P. in the chair. Part of a paper was 

 read from E. Davy, Esq. of Dublin, on a new combination of chlorine and 

 nitrous gas, 



Feb. 24. A paper was read on the chemical action of atmospheric 



